Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told his hosts during an official visit to Denmark on Monday that Islamic fundamentalists in Europe are abusing European Union freedoms to promote Islamic supremacy and anti-Semitism.
"Radical Islamic elements are misusing the democratic tools granted to them by the European countries in order to agitate, aggravate and radicalize relations within and among these countries, at the same time increasing and encouraging anti-Semitic phenomena," Lieberman said during a meeting with the Danish Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Birthe Rønn Hornbech. The two political leaders met in Copenhagen to discuss issues relating to immigration, developments in the Middle East and Europe, as well as the Iranian nuclear threat.
The Foreign Minister also met with Gitte Lillelund Bech, chairperson of the Danish parliament's Foreign Policy Committee. They discussed bilateral relations between Israel and Denmark, issues of global policy, and the upcoming visit to Israel by members of the committee Bech heads.
While in Denmark, Foreign Minister Lieberman took part in dedicating a new memorial in honor of the country's Jews who were deported to the Thereisenstadt concentration camp. He laid a wreath in memory of the victims and delivered remarks on behalf of the State of Israel. Lieberman noted that the people of Denmark risked their lives to save Jews who were to be sent to their deaths at the hands of the Nazis. For the nation's collective resistance to Nazi anti-Semitism, "Denmark will always hold a special place in the history and in the hearts of the Jewish people," he said.
Turning from the past to the present, Lieberman continued, "We are today again facing elements who threaten to destroy the Jews, not only those living in Israel. The Iranian regime is funding terrorist activity throughout the world and particularly against Jews. The State of Israel is responsible for all Jewish communities in the world, and all Jewish communities are responsible for the State of Israel. This cooperation is essential in order to halt this threat."
Yet the danger is not to the Jews alone, the Foreign Minister emphasized, "The struggle against the Iranian threat is the greatest challenge that the democratic world faces today."
Lieberman is visiting the Netherlands today (Tuesday). Alongside meetings with Dutch officials, he will chair a meeting of Israeli diplomatic personnel in Western Europe. He is due back in Israel by Thursday.