In Kfar Azza and Nahal Oz today, I heard Mazi, Gali and Naomi speak about the pain of October 7 and the long road ahead. Their resilience is humbling. We planted a clementine tree in Mazi’s garden - hoping it will grow strong with the community.

In the Negev I listened to Bedouin leaders speaking openly about the daily realities facing recognized and unrecognized villages - and their determination to change them. Their leadership left a strong impression on me. The EU stands with those working for equality and dialogue.

Honoured to open the Independent Journalism Conference in Tel Aviv w/ ISOC-IL, Union of Journalists in IL and 7th Eye. Freedom of the press & pluralism of the media are fundamental values for the EU. We'll continue supporting journalists & civil society actors committed to truth and accountability.

We had the great honour to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day by hosting a Zikaron Basalon event with the extraordinary Rachel Herczl. Born in 1929 in Hungary, she survived Auschwitz and founded a beautiful family in Israel after the war. Thank you for sharing your story with us!

Great to come down to Eilat for a constructive meeting with Mayor Eli Lankry. Eilat has long been an important partner for us, successfully taking part in key projects and programmes in research and innovation, climate action and other areas of cooperation.

Honoured to visit together with fellow ambassadors the Ghetto Fighters’ House ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A powerful reminder of courage amid tragedy, and of our enduring responsibility to remember, to educate and to fight antisemitism in all its forms.

Great pleasure to meet Gadi Baltiansky of Education for Peace, the Tel Aviv HQ of the Geneva Initiative. Supporting civil society and those working for peace remains a core element of the EU’s engagement in the region.

Very rewarding meeting with Robert Singer and his team from the Center for Jewish Impact. We had a constructive exchange on shared priorities and ways to deepen #EU cooperation with Israeli civil society.

Thanks to Swiss Ambassador Simon Geissbühler and Bar Ilan University the very moving and informative event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. As Europeans, we consider it our sacred duty to remember the past and work toward a world without antisemitism and discrimination.

Had a great evening of basketball watching Maccabi Tel Aviv versus Hapoel Jerusalem. Fantastic noisy atmosphere and a thrilling match. I'll be back 🏀

Delighted to meet Omri Timianker, founder and boss of Penlink, for a fascinating discussion about technology, disinformation and preparedness. Having worked on disinformation, it was great to see how technology and human skills are developing so fast, led by cutting-edge firms like Penlink.

Lovely visit to the Children's Hospital at Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Grateful to Prof. David Greenberg and his dedicated staff for their inspiring work. Wishing a happy Hannukah and a speedy recovery to all the adorable patients we met!

Today I visited the Gvili family home in Meitar, where Ran Gvili lived before he headed out on Oct 7, despite his broken shoulder, to save lives and fight terrorists. I told Talik, his courageous mother, that we will continue to push for his return. The Trump plan must be implemented.

Delighted to meet again Ruth Shoham, CEO of Davidson Institute at the Weizmann Institute, to discuss creative ways to encourage youngsters to study science.

Proud to once again partner with the Solidarity Human Rights Film Festival, which opened last night in Tel Aviv. Human rights are universal and apply everywhere, including in this region where such rights face profound challenges. We'll always stand with defenders of human rights.

Productive visit to Hebrew University with the head of our Research & Innovation Section, meeting the university leadership and listening to and learning from outstanding EU-funded researchers. Our interlocutors underlined the importance of continued cooperation with European scientists.

Honoured to join Ukrainian Deputy PM Taras Kachka and Ukranian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk for the unveiling of the Holodomor memorial in Jerusalem. We remember the millions who perished in the man-made famine of 1932-33. The EU will continue to stand with Ukraine. 🇪🇺🇺🇦

I joined Herzliya Mayor Yariv Fisher for the cornerstone laying of The Congress, a new hub for conferences, sports and other events. As a resident of Herzliya, I'm looking forward to seeing this venue improve community life and bring people together from Israel, Europe and beyond.

It was a pleasure to meet representatives of NGOs implementing projects funded by the EU on human rights, peace building and strengthening civil society. Very impressed by their dedication and the quality of their important work.

I just had a constructive meeting with Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman. We reiterated our shared commitment to tackling climate change and protecting our environment and discussed EU-Israel cooperation in green innovation, water, clean energy and sustainable development.

Great meeting today with students of European Studies at the Simone Veil Research Centre at Ben-Gurion University. Impressed by their thoughtful questions and strong commitment to understand EU-Israel relations. Always inspiring to engage with the next generation of European policy experts.

I had a rewarding day in the Negev, meeting people from the Bedouin community in Israel, hearing about their challenges, resilience and inspiring optimism for a better future. >>

I condemn yesterday’s terror attack in the West Bank that killed one person and wounded three. My condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded. The violence in the West Bank must stop.

Thank you Mitvim Institute for inviting me to your annual conference today in Tel Aviv. It was great to discuss with Maya Sion Tsidkiyahu the current state and future trajectory of EU-Israel relations, with a special focus on the role we can play to help the implementation of the Trump plan.

I just visited the impressive ANU — Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. It was a fascinating journey through the storied history of the Jewish people and their many contributions to science, culture and humanity. Thank you Irina Nevzlin and Oded Revivi for hosting me!

Timely and constructive discussion with Avi Balashnikov, Nili Shalev and their teams at the Israel Export Institute. We highlighted the importance of strong EU–Israel economic relations; I welcomed the Institute’s offer to continue working closely with the EU Delegation.

Thank you Dr. David Rutstein, Secretary-General of the Bahá’í International Community, for the warm welcome at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, a beautiful symbol of hope, coexistence, unity and peace among all peoples.

Thank you Maoz Inon for showing us around Nazareth and introducing us to many inspiring residents of this beautiful city. We were deeply impressed by their resilience and applaud your dedication to shaping the city’s future.

The day we all waited for. I am deeply moved to see the Israeli hostages finally returning home. We commend all parties whose tireless diplomatic efforts made this possible. May this mark the beginning of a new chapter for Israel, the region and its people.

Inspiring meeting with Somaya Bashir and Angela Scharf, two remarkable women from @WomenWagePeace. Their commitment to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians gives us hope for a better future.

מאחלים חג סוכות שמח!

בשם משלחת האיחוד האירופי בישראל, אני מאחל לכל עם ישראל גמר חתימה טובה

1/2 On behalf of the EU and its member states, today I laid a wreath at the Nova festival site in memory of the victims of the October 7 massacre. We heard moving stories of bravery and resilience, including from paramedic Oshrit Hadad who courageously saved lives while under fire >

‏"שיפה ושונה תהא השנה אשר מתחילה לה היום"

Marking European Researcher’s Night at @weizmanninstitute.bsky.social. The presence of children and families eager to learn stands in sharp contrast to the destruction caused by the Iranian attack earlier this year. Science & research for the benefit of humanity must prevail.

Today I presented my letter of credence to President @isaacherzog.bsky.social, officially starting my tenure as EU ambassador to Israel. I am honoured to represent the EU, and look forward to work together with Israelis of all walks of life for a better future for Israel and the region.

Today I laid a wreath at Yad Vashem in memory of the 6 million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. It was important for me to come here early during my term to reiterate the EU's enduring commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education. >>

Grateful to @maozinon.bsky.social for an inspiring exchange and for keeping alive the message of peace. As you remind us: "hope requires action" - and the EU will continue to stand with civil society where and when it matters most.

I strongly condemn the deadly terror attack at the Ramat Junction, which killed at least 5 civilians. Heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and a speedy recovery to the injured. Terrorism and violence against civilians are never justified.

Shalom, Israel. I am very honoured to start my term as new EU ambassador to Israel.Please see me video message below:

I welcome the ceasefire and hostage release agreement. This is a major, positive breakthrough towards ending the violence. It is now time to deliver this agreement for all hostages and their families, the people of Gaza, and the people of the region.