Joint statement made by chairs of foreign affairs committees of Israel, Baltic states

TALLINN - On Monday, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament Marko Mihkelson together with his counterparts from Latvia, Lithuania and Israel made a joint statement in Jerusalem, where they denounce Hamas and its acts of terrorism inflicted upon Israel and its citizens.

"The actions perpetrated by Hamas lack any justification, legitimacy, or rationalization, and as such, they warrant global condemnation. These attacks represent an ideology whose sole objective is to erase the State of Israel from the map," said the chairmen of foreign affairs committees who uphold Israel's legitimate right to defend its nation and citizens from violent acts of terrorism.

The chairs of foreign affairs committees call on the international community to make clear to the axis countries, or Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, and to organizations in the region, primarily Hezbollah, to avoid participating in the war.

"They must not promote, encourage, or allow for an additional front against Israel. Such actions will be met with a firm and lethal Israeli response," the joint statement says.

According to the chairs of foreign affairs committees, much of the violence against Israel and its citizens has been directly funded and supported by Iran.

"We are firmly united in our conviction that Iran represents a grave global threat, not only as a leading purveyor of terrorism but also as a relentless underminer of stability in both the Middle East and the wider global arena. We call on the international community to take coordinated action to further isolate Iran with severe sanctions," they point out in the joint statement.

They also call upon like-minded nations to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. In the statement, they also express concern over Iran's advancements in its nuclear program, as well as its lack of transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The prospect of an unchecked, nuclear-armed Iran is a scenario that the global community cannot tolerate. We urgently implore the international community to unite in a resolute and coordinated effort to avert this impending threat," the statement says.

The chairmen of foreign affairs committees note that they observe with deep concern the growing collaboration between Russia and Iran on the battlefield within Ukraine as well as in deepening contacts with Hamas. In their opinion, this is a development that presents a profound threat to the security of Israel, the Middle East, and Europe.

"We unequivocally affirm our unwavering support for the Ukrainian people and stand resolute in our steadfast commitment to assisting Ukraine. This commitment is firmly anchored in our deeply held conviction that it not only reflects the morally imperative course of action but also aligns with our collective interest in confronting totalitarian regimes on the international stage,” the chairmen of foreign affairs committees emphasized.

In addition to Mihkelson, the joint statement was signed by chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Saeima of Latvia Rihards Kols, chairman of the committee on foreign affairs of the Seimas of Lithuania Zygimantas Pavilionis and chairman of the foreign affairs and defense committee of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein.