Posted on 05/23/22
| News Source: i24
Roberta Metsola on her first visit to the Jewish state
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola pledged to strengthen ties with Israel and fight antisemitism in a speech on Monday at the Knesset in Jerusalem.
"Being antisemitic means being anti-European," Metsola told lawmakers gathered at Israel's parliament for the special address.
"This is my first visit, but it won't be my last," the 43-year-old who was elected in January said.
Metsola is the youngest person ever to hold the EU parliament presidency and the first from Malta.
The visit is also the first by a president of the European Parliament in Israel since 2014.
She arrived on Sunday to the Jewish state for the three-day visit, making the first stop at Tel Aviv University where she told a packed crowd at Sourasky Central Library that she would advocate for strengthened ties between Israel and the EU.