WJC hosts H.E. Mr. Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, in Brussels

The World Jewish Congress hosted a dinner in honor of H.E. Mr. Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, alongside the Ambassador of Israel to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, H.E. Ms. Idit Rosenzweig-Abu and the Head of the Mission of the State of Israel to the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), H.E. Mr. Haim Regev. 

In his remarks, President Herzog commended the President of the World Jewish Congress, Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, and the WJC for being “an illustrious organization that has done so much to promote the cause of Jewish life and combatting antisemitism.” 

President Herzog asserted that the Iranian threat is “the real challenge that we are faced with, which is now coming to a peak”. Mr. Herzog believes that the most recent developments in Iran should be a wake-up call for the European Union in all its fora to take action and be decisive, and to support Israel. “It is time for European leadership to be firm on this issue.” 

WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern expressed his gratitude for all the efforts being undertaken by Mr. Herzog in support of the Jewish communities in the Diaspora.  

Ahead of the event, President Herzog met with the Belgian Jewish community in the Great Synagogue of Europe, where he recalled the darkest moments in European Jewish history, with hope for a better future. In this context, Mr. Herzog also expressed his support to the present and future endeavours of the Belgian Jewish community. 

The dinner was organized as part of President Herzog’s official trip to Brussels where he addressed the European Parliament during its plenary session, to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on the invitation of the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.  

President Herzog held meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament Vice-Presidents and other European Union high-level officials for a wide-ranging conversations on Israel-European Union relations, Middle East policy, and common challenges such as climate change and energy. During this trip, President Herzog became the first Israeli President to address NATO’s North Atlantic Council (NAC), NATO’s principal political decision-making body.