BRUSSELS - "The despicable 'final solution' of the Nazis sought to tear the flesh and blood out of Europe. Because just as humanity would not be what it is without Europe,
Europe could not be what it is without the Jews"
.
Thus Israeli President Isaac Herzog, during his speech to the plenary of the European Parliament on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
"Can anyone imagine a Europe without the theories of Sigmund Freud, without the genius of Albert Einstein or Emmy Noether? Is there a Europe without the echoes of Karl Marx's thought?
How can European philosophy be conceived without Baruch Spinoza or Henri Bergson , or the private spirit of European culture of Amedeo Modigliani and Franz Kafka?” Herzog continued during his speech to the courtroom.
"When we stand together, here in the beating heart of the European Union, we understand well the mission of remembrance that we all share. But in the places of remembrance to which we make pilgrimages, we must remember not only the Holocaust and the destruction, but also the sacred covenant forged in this horrific disaster and sanctify the memory of the victims," the president underlined.
"I repeat what I said in the Knesset: being anti-Semitic means being anti-European".
Thus the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during her speech to the plenary of the European Parliament on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
"We need to speak up because, despite decades of efforts, anti-Semitism still exists. Hate still finds too many voices to excuse it. Too many families in Europe and around the world live with their suitcases packed at their door. We cannot allow anyone to find comfort in ignorance,” Metsola explained.
“Our first female President, Simone Veil, was herself a survivor, raised to change the face of Europe
, and her legacy is present in these halls and palaces. She understood that 'neutrality only helps the oppressor'. And the European Parliament will always take one side: on the side of respect, on the side of human dignity, on the side of equality, on the side of hope", concluded Metsola.