"Although peace is for us Israelis the uppermost goal, one thing is more important, it’s our existence. We should never forget that," Israeli Minister Yossi Peled told a meeting of European Jewish organizations leaders in Brussels on Wednesday.
“Oue enemies don't make a distinction between Israelis and Jews from the rest of the world”, he also said, emphasising the Jewish Nation’s “common future”.
Stressing that Jews have “one past and one future,” the minister paid tribute to his birth country, Belgium, on his first return visit in 12 years.
He spoke of his childhood during WWII when his parents hid him with a Catholic family in Antwerp before being deported to Auschwitz, where all his family, with the exception of his mother, were killed.
He later emigrated to Israel where he had a distinguished 30-year career in the Israel Defence Force (IDF) which included serving in the Six-Day war.
He claimed that “the desire of 90% of people living in Israel is to achieve peace”. Describing the formation of the Jewish State in 1948 as a “miracle”, he insisted that it must be defended at all costs:“It’s a one-time gift from history,” he said. “If we lost it, we’d never have another chance. Our existence is the most important thing and peace will come.”
Peled stressed that Iran brought fresh danger of another Holocaust and said he “believes it” when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he wants to destroy Israel, adding “never again is not just a phrase but it means we should never again put our necks under any guillotine”.
Referring to a series of events he recently staged to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Eichmann trial, he described a recent trip to the Wannsee suburb of Berlin where the Nazi leaders drew up plans for the Final Solution for the mass extermination of European Jews.
Peled described holding a commemoration at the Wannsee House (which housed the Nazi conference) as moving, particularly as the ‘Hatikva’, Israel’ national anthem, was played in the background in the presence of Israeli soldiers.
The Likud minister without portfolio in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cabinet dismissed talk of an Arab Spring, however, saying “spring is flowers, children, new life, not mass killings.”
He described Israel’s position in the Arab world following the recent series of popular uprisings as “precarious,” saying:“Israel is now a small island in a huge Muslim ocean. We have to be careful not to be flooded by an Arab Tsunami.”
The State of Israel, because of its history, has not only the right to protect itself, but a moral obligation to stop history from repeating itself,” he said, rejecting international condemnation of Israel’s attempts to defend itself from countries that threaten its existence.”
In Brussels, Peled participated in the European Parliament in an event celebrating “Jerusalem Day” which marks the reunification of the city under Israeli control following the Six-Day war in 1967.
Several members of the Parliament and other friends of Israel, including former Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski, attended the event organized for the fifth consecutive year by the European Jewish Community Center (EJCC), a member organization of the European Jewish Association (EJA), in partnership with B'nai B'rith International.
“Jerusalem is a name so full of meaning,” said Finnish MEP Hannu Takula, who hosted the event.
“From time to time in Israel people have the feeling that all Europe is again them but inside the European Parliament there are many real friends of Israel, “ he said. “It is also very important to remember that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel,” Takula added.
European Parliament Vice-President Alejo Vidal-Quadras, from Spain, emphasized “the rich cultural history and spiritual significance of Jerusalem for so many people.”
He added:"As all of us with a special interest in Israel know, Jerusalem’s struggles are far from over”. “Like so many in the European Parliament, I want to see negotiations reopened, territorial disputes resolved and progress made towards a peaceful and long lasting solution.”
“Israel needs friends to offer support in such times and I look forward to the European Union and Israel building upon areas of cooperation, recognizing the many political and cultural bonds they share.”
‘Jerusalem Day’'s celebration featured an exhibition of fine art photography ”From Europe to Jerusalem-The Route” by Finnish artist Inna Rogatchi.

EJP