Estonian MP: Free world should be grateful to Israel

TALLINN – Eerik-Niiles Kross, chairman of the Estonia-Israel parliamentary group, stressed at a meeting between the parliamentary group, leaders of the Estonian Jewish community and representatives of the Ariel think tank on Monday that the free world should be grateful to Israel, not lecture it on how to wage war.

According to Kross, relations between Estonia and Israel have been good in recent years, but the spread of ignorant antisemitism in society is a concern, although it is less prevalent in Estonia compared to Western Europe.

"The innocent people murdered two years ago left behind thousands of mourners. Some of those abducted have since been killed or have died, and it is believed that about 20 Israeli hostages are still alive in Hamas's captivity. We must remember that among Hamas's victims was also one Estonian citizen," Kross said at the meeting, which commemorated the tragic events that took place in Israel two years ago.

"The Riigikogu's parliamentary group has made several statements supporting Israel, and we wish Israel strength in protecting its people, now and in the future. We hope the war started by Hamas ends with a more sustainable peace in the Middle East," Kross said.

"Israel has managed to significantly weaken Hezbollah, restrain an Iran pursuing nuclear weapons, contribute to the fall of Syrian dictator Al-Assad's tyrannical regime, and has come very close to defeating Hamas," he added.

"The free world should be grateful to Israel for this, not lecture it on how to wage war," Kross stated.

He also welcomed the announcement that Israel will open its embassy in Estonia in November.

"Estonia and Israel -- high-tech democracies with barbaric neighbors -- are natural partners," he emphasized.

MP Riina Solman, who was near the Lebanese border in Israel a year ago and had to take shelter from a Hezbollah rocket barrage, recalled that the Oct. 7 attack was a shock to the entire world.

"Oct. 7, 2023, showed Israel that the Jewish state must be constantly vigilant to protect its people. This particular attack crossed all boundaries of humanity in a way not seen since the Holocaust. I would like to ask the critics: how can a country possibly live in peace with a neighbor that behaves so barbarically?" Solman said.

She highlighted that the military infrastructure and tunnel network built by Hamas in Gaza is extensive -- estimated at nearly 500 kilometers -- and was constructed under hospitals, schools, and kindergartens, partly with European taxpayers' money.

"These facilities had to be neutralized to protect civilians, yet this action has been met mainly with accusations. How is a country supposed to act to protect its people? Israel's goal has been to disarm the terrorists, remove them from power, and bring back the hostages -- which remains the greatest unresolved issue to this day," Solman said.

"Conditions are imposed on the Jewish state, and it is criticized for protecting its people, but are any conditions set for the terrorists? I do not understand why there are still people in Estonia who justify Hamas, when it is a criminal terrorist organization," she added.

The meeting also addressed the challenges facing the Estonian Jewish Community, security issues, and the community's significant contribution to Estonian society.

Parliamentary group member Riina Sikkut emphasized that it is the constitutional duty of the Estonian state to ensure that all ethnic groups feel secure in their homeland. Representatives of the community thanked the Estonian state for its attention and care. The chief rabbi of the Jewish community, Shmuel Kot, thanked the Estonian people and politicians for their consistent support for the State of Israel.

The Riigikogu's Estonia-Israel parliamentary group expressed condolences to all Palestinian and Israeli civilians, as well as to the fallen soldiers who have lost their lives in the war. The friendship group stated that every war is regrettable and expressed hope that the weapons will fall silent in all conflict zones as soon as possible.

On Oct. 7, 2023, the Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas carried out a brutal invasion and massacre against the state and people of Israel, which was followed by an attack involving thousands of rockets from three directions at once.

The chairman of the Estonia-Israel parliamentary group is Eerik-Niiles Kross, and its members are Vadim Belobrovtsev, Meelis Kiili, Lauri Laats, Riina Sikkut, Riina Solman, Aivar Sõerd, Peeter Tali, Vilja Toomast and Kristo Enn Vaga.