Jerusalem Day In The European Parliament
Tuesday 11 May, 2010
Brussels - Timothy hosted the European Parliament's Jerusalem Day commemoration today. On the eve of Yom Yerushalayim itself, the Parliament held an event with an exhibition of scenes from the Holy City and a tasting of Israeli wines. It was organised by the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC) and supported by the European Friends of Israel (EFI). The event was attended by Vice Prime Minister of Israel, Silvan Shalom and Israel's Ambassador to the EU, His Excellency Ran Curiel.
In his opening remarks, Timothy said:
"Can I begin by thanking everyone for coming today. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to host the Jerusalem Day celebrations in the European parliament.
I would like to pay tribute to the European Jewish Community Centre and the efforts they have made to bring this event to life. They have succeeded in bringing a little bit of Jerusalem to Brussels: they have introduced us to the work of photographer Moti Goldman and they have very kindly arranged for us to taste a selection of Israeli wines. Thank you to the E.J.C.C.
I would also like to thank the European Friends of Israel for supporting this event. They have been a respected point of contact for Israeli affairs in Brussels for a long time now and I am glad to see many of their Members here today. Thank you to the E.F.I.
Can I also thank Mr Silvan Shalom, Vice Prime Minister of Israel and Minister for Regional Development, for his presence today. It makes this occasion doubly special and on behalf of the Parliament can I say how honoured we are to have you here.
Jerusalem Day actually falls on the 12th of May this year - tomorrow. For obvious reasons we decided to host the event today because we wanted to see as many of you as possible. It is a day when we are reminded that we must reach out to people of different cultures and faiths. The message of "unity in diversity" is one with which we can all relate to in Europe. It can be hard, but it is a lesson that we must learn again and again.
For three millennia, Jerusalem has been more than just a city. For the Jews, it was the place where God made his dwelling on earth. In their exile, it was the place they looked to for hope of renewal and restoration. For Christians, it is the city where Jesus was crucified and raised triumphantly to life, and where he will return to institute his eternal kingdom. For Muslims, it is home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third most holy site in Islam.
For those who have never been within a thousand miles of the Middle East, the name Jerusalem resonates with history and a significance unmatched in the world. Benjamin Disraeli said: "The view of Jerusalem is the history of the world; it is more, it is the history of Earth and Heaven".
But Jerusalem is more than a symbol. Yes, you can visit Hezekiah's tunnel, walk on Nehemiah's city walls, look at the pool of Siloam, admire Herod's wall and pay tribute to the victims of the Shoah at Yad Vashem. But it is a living city. You can see the bustle of the soukh in the Old City, listen to the lively debates in the Knesset, watch pilgrims on the Via Dolorosa and see students at the Hebrew and Al-Kuds University. The past and the future are everywhere before your eyes.
This is not meant to be a sanitised and idealised view of this most disputed of cities. We need to acknowledge that it is not only Jewish people who have aspirations for Jerusalem. The Palestinians also see Jerusalem as their permanent capital. There are legitimate concerns that an aggressive building programme is dispossessing Arabs of their homes and land.
Often quoted on Jerusalem Day is the message of Moshe Dayan, Defence Minister at the time when Israel "captured" Jerusalem, on the 7th of June 1967. He said:
"This morning, the Israel Defense Forces liberated Jerusalem. We have united Jerusalem, the divided capital of Israel. We have returned to the holiest of our holy places, never to part from it again. To our Arab neighbors we extend, also at this hour—and with added emphasis at this hour—our hand in peace. And to our Christian and Muslim fellow citizens, we solemnly promise full religious freedom and rights. We did not come to Jerusalem for the sake of other peoples' holy places, and not to interfere with the adherents of other faiths, but in order to safeguard its entirety, and to live there together with others, in unity."
It is a message which holds a commitment that must never be forgotten. The prophet Zachariah foresaw a time when "once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem's streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.
You will hear from our very special guest Mr Shalom in a moment. But first we will hear messages from Rabbi Levi Garelik of the European Synagogue, and then Hannu Takkula MEP on behalf of the European Friends of Israel.
Thank you."
