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Israeli President Isaac Herzog received a delegation of imams and Muslim religious leaders from European countries at the presidential residence in Jerusalem.
The meeting was organized by ELNET, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that promotes ties between Europe and Israel.
The Times of Israel reported that the Muslim community leaders were visiting Israel from several European countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
"This morning, I hosted important Muslim leaders from across Europe at the presidential headquarters," Herzog said in a post on his X account.
An ELNET spokesperson told The Times of Israel that participants were selected for the trip in close collaboration with Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, chairman of the Conference of Imams of France.
Almost all of the religious leaders were visiting the Jewish state for the first time.
One of the most prominent attendees was the French imam of Tunisian origin, Hassen Chalghoumi, known for his controversial positions within European Islamic circles. He is often referred to as "the imam of peace" and is a vocal supporter of Israel.
Chalghoumi believes that recognizing and supporting the Jewish state is part of "moderation and coexistence."
He emphasizes that combating extremism requires building bridges with the Jewish community and advocating for peace. He has stated that his support for Israel stems from a defense of democracy and a rejection of violence and fanaticism.
This stance has exposed him to repeated security threats, necessitating constant police protection. Chalghoumi views establishing positive relations with Israel as a crucial step toward promoting dialogue and peace in the Middle East and the broader Islamic world.
During the meeting, Chalghoumi told President Herzog, “We came bearing a message of love and are praying for the return of the hostages.” He added, “The war that broke out after October 7 is a war between two worlds. You represent the world of humanity and democracy.”
He went further to describe the ongoing conflict as more than a political or military clash: “What we have witnessed since Oct. 7 is not merely a conflict between Israel and Hamas, nor between Israel and Hezbollah—the so-called ‘Party of Satan’. Rather, it is a confrontation between two fundamentally different worlds. You represent the world of brotherhood, of humanity, of compassion. You stand for the values of democracy and liberty.”
President Herzog, in turn, praised the delegation’s efforts to promote interfaith understanding, saying, “We are all children of Abraham, and I believe the historic progress in our region is a progress of dialogue between Muslims and Jews, and Jews and Muslims,” Herzog said.
“What you’re doing on this visit, and in your courageous work, reflects the silent majority in the Middle East and around the world who yearn for this kind of shared life.”
While the gathering was framed by participants as an interfaith initiative for peace and dialogue, it drew sharp criticism across Arab and Muslim communities, particularly amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Critics accused Chalghoumi and others of legitimizing Israeli policies and ignoring the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Palestinian territories.
In response to the visit, the head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Dr. Ali al-Qaradaghi, stated on X that “A visit by a delegation of sheikhs to the occupying entity does not condemn the scholars themselves, but rather condemns those who organized it and exposes their submission.”
Dr. Ali al-Qaradaghi added, “Islam is innocent of the evil of normalization, and the status of scholars is too high to be tarnished in the name of ‘openness’ to the occupiers of land and blood.”
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