A delegation of European imams and Muslim leaders, led by French imam Hassen Chalghoumi, was received on Monday by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.
"We are all children of Abraham, facing radical forces that attempt to hinder this progress [...] Through your visit and your courageous action, you embody the majority of those in the Middle East and around the world who aspire to live together," said the Israeli president, according to a video posted on his X account.
He praised the "courage" of this visit, adding that "in these difficult times of tensions between Jews and Muslims, some choose to act differently." The delegation included imams from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy, according to Israeli media.
The trip was organized by ELNET (European Leadership Network), which describes itself as "an independent organization" and "dedicated to strengthening relations between France, Europe, and Israel."
This organization hosted a gathering of 2,000 people in Paris in March, titled "For the Republic, France against Islamism," bringing together figures from the right and far-right.
Hassen Chalghoumi, the imam of Drancy, a town near Paris, has participated in several demonstrations denouncing the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and against anti-Semitism.
