Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud) on Thursday represented the Israeli government in a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the first and only synagogue in Estonia since World War II.
The entire Estonian leadership took part in the ceremony, including President Kersti Kaljulaid, local government ministers and members of the European Parliament, where Estonia will serve as president this summer. The ceremony was also attended by the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau, as well as heads of the local Jewish community and Israel's Ambassador to Estonia.
"Only those who do not remember the past are liable to repeat their mistakes," Gamliel said at the ceremony. “The diplomatic representation of senior Estonian leaders at the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the synagogue is clear evidence that Estonia has not forgotten or turned its back on the painful past. We are marking the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Israel and Estonia. This is a clear answer to the Nazis who in 1942 declared Estonia to be the first European country free of Jews."
She added, "Today too, seven decades after the Holocaust, anti-Semitism continues to raise its head only now it is under the cover of anti-Israelism. But the hate is the same hate. Yesterday we celebrated the anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Jerusalem has been our capital not since Camp David but since King David, for 3,000 years.”
"So the next time someone dares to deny or undermine our connection to Jerusalem, be it the UN or anyone else, he should know that he is not just rewriting history or rewriting the Bible. He is denying our right to exist in our ancient homeland,” continued Gamliel.
Referring to terrorist attacks in Europe in recent years, and specifically the attack in Manchester this week, Gamliel said, "The threat of radical Islamic terrorism must unite the Western world. The same terrorism that led to bloodbaths in the streets of Israel is now resulting in bloodbaths in the streets of Europe. Unfortunately the world loses its voice when it comes to terrorism against Israel, and this must stop and all of us must unite, all the free countries, on one front against terrorism.”
"When it comes to terror, there must be no double standard. The killing of civilians is terrorism. There cannot and should not be excuses and explanations, the murder of civilians is terrorism," she stressed.