Earlier this month, Michal Kaminski MEP visited Israel with the European Friends of Israel. Despite having been to Israel numerous times, this was his first visit as the new appointed Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) political group in the European Parliament.
On his visit, Mr Kaminski joined CFI’s Parliamentary delegation of MPs and PPCs for dinner in Jerusalem. The dinner was attended by Members of the Knesset from across the political spectrum in Israel, all brought together by the Britain/Israel friendship group and its Chairman MK Nachman Shai.
At the dinner, the ECR’s new Chairman expressed his delight at being given the opportunity to meet Israeli politicians alongside Conservative parliamentarians from the new European coalition. With MKs from all sides of the political divide present, the dinner was an excellent chance for the whole group to experience the diversity and complexity of Israeli politics.
"I wanted my first official trip as chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group to be to Israel so that I could deliver the message that there is a group in the European Parliament that will be a true friend of Israel.
"The major issue that kept coming up in my meetings - particularly the excellent meeting I held with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon - was that Europe needs to take action immediately on the Iranian threat. I will do all I can to ensure Europe acts against this threat now, rather than waiting until it is too late." Michal Kaminski MEP, Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists political group, September 2009