BICOM

Israel’s Likud Party, headed by the Prime Minister was yesterday welcomed as a regional member of the third largest political bloc in the European Parliament.

At a meeting in the Czech capital Prague, Likud’s membership was approved by the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR). The politically conservative bloc includes member parties from all European Union member states, including the Conservative Party. Other regional members include the US Republican Party, Australia’s Liberal Party and Canada’s Conservative Party. The Secretary-General of the AECR is Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan.

According to the Jerusalem Post, a visit to London in January by Likud’s Foreign Affairs Director Eli Hazan paved the way towards yesterday’s decision. Hazan met with Minister of State for Education Rob Halfon and Conservative MP Mark Field during his trip, who and they helped to make the connection with the AECR. Hazan then formally requested membership of the AECR in March.

Before yesterday’s decision was taken, Hazan explained Likud Party policies and positions to AECR-affiliated parliamentarians.

Following yesterday’s signing ceremony, Hazan said: “The agreement is historic, because it is the first time that an Israeli Centre-Right party has been accepted as a regional partner of a European party.”

He added: “It’s even more significant because the signing happened when Israel is fighting for its international image. There’s no doubt that this is further damage to the boycott Israel movement.”

Likud had previously applied for member of the largest bloc in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP). However, at the time, the EPP opted to incorporate Kadima, which was headed by Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni.