Organizers of the European Union's "Europe Day" event in Tel Aviv announced that they are canceling the diplomatic reception and all speeches because they "do not want to offer a platform to someone whose views contradict the values the EU stands for" after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir insisted on addressing the ceremony.
Ben-Gvir issued a statement in response, saying "It is a shame that the European Union, which claims to represent the values of democracy and multiculturalism, practices undiplomatic silencing." He added that "it is an honor and a privilege for me to represent the Israeli government, the heroic IDF soldiers, and the people of Israel in every forum."
"Friends know how to voice criticism, and true friends also know how to hear such," he concluded.
Germany's Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, tweeted that he "wish[es] this hadn’t been necessary – but it was. Looking forward to celebrating Europe and the values that unite us at the cultural event."
Opposition leader Yair Lapid blamed the Israeli government for "engaging in unnecessary conflicts and causing a crisis with the EU for the sole purpose of allowing Ben-Gvir to deliver an unnecessary speech that would shame us in front of the world."
Former defense minister and head of the opposition National Unity Party Benny Gantz likened sending Ben-Gvir to represent Israel at the EU as "diplomatic assault," which is indicative of "Netanyahu's extreme lack of sound judgment."
The unprecedented move follows numerous requests from the EU to replace Ben-Gvir with someone not associated with the far-right.
It became apparent that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could not force Ben-Gvir to drop the event, however, leading to the EU's decision to cancel the event, despite possible diplomatic repercussions.
Earlier on Monday, EU ambassadors recommended canceling all speeches at the event following a special meeting of all European ambassadors in Israel in response to the government's decision to send Ben-Gvir.
Despite explicit requests from the European Union and its prominent countries to send a minister who is not identified with the extreme right, Ben-Gvir stated on Sunday that he intends to attend and speak at the event.
The office of the far-right minister, whose participation at the reception reportedly caught EU representatives in Israel by surprise, released a statement saying that Ben-Gvir will use his speech to tell EU representatives that it is "inappropriate for EU countries to fund initiatives against IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens."
Diplomats who participated in the morning meeting told Haaretz that there was almost complete consensus among the ambassadors against Ben-Gvir's participation, with Hungary and Poland being the only countries not in favor of this position.
During the meeting, postponing the event for a few days was discussed as an option to give the government an opportunity to send another representative. However, given the fear that even a postponement would not dissuade Ben-Gvir from attending, most of the ambassadors recommended holding the event without speeches.
One of the participants in the meeting told Haaretz, "Ben-Gvir will still be able to come and give a statement to the media, but we don't need to give him a respectable platform with a microphone and flags."
Another diplomat who participated in the conversation estimated that even if a decision is made to cancel the speeches, there will be ambassadors who would prefer not to attend the event because of Ben-Gvir's presence.
Additionally, Ben-Gvir's arrival is expected to cause a large demonstration of government opponents in front of the event, requiring a more significant security preparation than originally planned.