European Muslim Leaders Visit Israel to Promote Peace, Condemn Extremism Amid Rising Antisemitism
Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with Muslim leaders from across Europe during a visit to promote interfaith dialogue and regional peace. Photo: Screenshot
In a bid to foster interfaith dialogue, a delegation of Muslim leaders from across Europe met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem on Monday, kicking off a week-long visit amid growing concerns over rising antisemitism worldwide.
Organized by the European Leadership Network (ELNET), a nongovernmental, nonpartisan group founded in 2007 to strengthen Israel-EU relations, the visit brought together Muslim leaders from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and England to promote interfaith cooperation.
In a post on X, Herzog praised the initiative, saying he was “moved and inspired” by his meeting with the delegation.
“They stand bravely against extremism, and speak out for coexistence and partnership between faiths,” the Israeli leader wrote.
“Here in Israel we live together side by side, Muslim and Jew, together with people of all faiths — and I urged them to take back with them to their communities a message of hope and peace for the future of the region,” Herzog continued.
“Inshallah, we will all see better days, with our hostages back home, and the end of conflicts and suffering in our region,” he said.
“You represent the world of brotherhood, humanity, and liberty”. The words of Imam Hassen Chalghoumi from France to me today.
I was moved and inspired to meet him and a delegation led by @elnet_global of Imams and Muslim community leaders from across Europe. They stand bravely… pic.twitter.com/gpJja2tQne
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) July 7, 2025
The 15-member delegation of Muslim imams from across Europe arrives at a time of rising global antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crimes — particularly in Europe — following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel.
“The war that broke out after Oct. 7 is not a war between Israel and Hamas or Israel and Hezbollah but a war between two worlds,” Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, chairman of the Conference of Imams of France, told Herzog during their meeting.
“You represent the world of humanity and democracy,” the Muslim leader said. “You represent the world of brotherhood, humanity, and liberty.”
Imam Chalghoumi noted that members of the delegation were fully aware of the risks they faced due to their visit.
Herzog praised the group for their “courageous” visit. “We are all the sons of Abraham,” he said, expressing hope that regional peace would soon be within reach.
“I believe that the historic progress in our region is the result of dialogue — between Muslims and Jews and between Jews and Muslims,” the Israeli leader said. “Against the extremist forces trying to stop this progress of living together, there are other forces that are growing stronger every day, advancing this vision.”
The delegation also emphasized their message of solidarity and love for the Jewish people, expressing hope for the safe return of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
“We want to see all the hostages home, and also to stop the suffering of the residents of Gaza and live a good life together,” Herzog told them.
After meeting with the Israeli leader, the delegation visited the Knesset and toured Jerusalem’s Old City.
The group is also scheduled to meet with Muslim victims of the Hamas onslaught, visit the Syrian and Lebanese borders, and tour sites in southern Israel impacted by the Oct. 7 attacks.
In a post on X, Noor Dahri, one of the imams in the delegation, praised the visit, saying it was “a great pleasure” to meet the Israeli leader.
“It was a peace journey from European Muslim Imams to Israel,” the Muslim leader said. “We want peace between both nations and strongly condemn political Islam and Islamist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and others.”
It was a great pleasure to meet the President of Israel @Isaac_Herzog along with European Muslim religious leaders led by @Imam1chalghoumi and organised by @elnet_global.
It was a peace journey from European Muslim Imams to Israel. We want peace between both nations and… pic.twitter.com/oMiDsHhnLs
— Noor Dahri – نور ڈاہری (@dahrinoor2) July 7, 2025
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