(June 29, 2026 \/ JNS)\n <\/p>\n
President Isaac Herzog urged European leaders to reject calls for boycotts of Israel, speaking on the second day of a visit to Romania on Monday, saying that \u201cthreats will not advance peace. Dialogue will.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Israeli head of state was received at the Presidential Palace in Bucharest by Romanian President Nicu\u0219or Dan, as part of his state visit<\/a> marking 85 years since the Ia\u0219i (sometimes anglicized as Jassy) pogrom.<\/p>\n Herzog and first lady Michal Herzog were welcomed with a red-carpet honor guard ceremony that included the playing of the Israeli and Romanian national anthems, before the two leaders held private and expanded bilateral meetings.<\/p>\n In joint statements to the press, Herzog emphasized shared democratic values \u201cover 78 years of diplomatic ties\u201d and expanding cooperation in fields including technology, innovation, cyber, AI, security, agriculture, culture and tourism, while thanking Romania for its support for Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael and Romania meet today as two strong and vibrant democracies,\u201d he said, adding that Israel\u2019s ongoing war is part of a broader struggle against Iran and its regional proxies.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the horrific massacre of October 7, 2023, Israel has faced a multi-front war with Iran and its terror proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis,\u201d Herzog said. \u201cBut this war is not just against Israel. It is a war being waged by Iran\u2019s empire of evil against the free world. Romania understands this threat, and we deeply appreciate your steadfast support for Israel during this challenging, but vital, battle.\u201d<\/p>\n He also welcomed a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between Israel and Lebanon, saying it \u201ccan become the cornerstone of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Mul\u021bumesc Pre\u0219edintelui @NicusorDanRO<\/a> pentru primirea cald\u0103 la Bucure\u0219ti.<\/p>\n \u00cen cadrul \u00eent\u00e2lnirii noastre, am discutat despre modalit\u0103\u021bile de consolidare \u00een continuare a profundelor leg\u0103turi bilaterale \u0219i a cooper\u0103rii dintre Rom\u00e2nia \u0219i Israel \u00een diverse domenii.<\/p>\n Am vorbit, de\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/C4nwEGBCFT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \u05d9\u05e6\u05d7\u05e7 \u05d4\u05e8\u05e6\u05d5\u05d2 Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Dan highlighted growing economic and defense cooperation, as well as opportunities to expand bilateral investment, while underscoring the significance of Herzog\u2019s visit in commemorating the Holocaust-era massacre in Ia\u0219i, where more than 13,000 Jews were killed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is the responsibility of all of us to work so that events of this kind never happen again,\u201d Dan said, warning of rising hate speech and calling for efforts to promote \u201cde-escalation, de-radicalization, and a sense of communion among people of different opinions, religions and beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n