Regarding the Hamas, Mr. Rivlin said “don’t take our communication with them as negotiations for peace but as negotiations of war, as far as they don’t recognize the State of Israel and don’t stop attacking our civilians” ; "We stand strong in our principles not to negotiate with terrorists, but we must tell them our rules, if someone wish to kill us we will defend ourselves and sometimes even kill before”. Rivlin also met Bulgarian MEP Nickolay Mladenov, Member of EFI, they spoke about the EU-Israel relations and Mr. Rivlin also thanked him for being a strong supporter of Israel.

Mr. Rivlin also praised the people and church of that country for the protection they offered to the Jewish population during the Second World War. Rivlin visited Brussels for a celebration of “Yom Yerushalaim” – The Jerusalem Day, which commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.The celebration took place at the European Parliament in Brussels hosted by Finish MEP Hannu Takkula, Member of EFI, and organized by the European Friends of Israel (EFI) and the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC).  

The event offered an art exhibition of Israeli artist Ruth Elbahar and a wine tasting from the finest selection of Israeli wines. Yaakov Levy, a young EJCC member, sang the Yerushalaim shel Zahav – Jerusalem of Gold. Marek Siwiec, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Vice-Chairman of EFI, said in his speech “last year we were criticized for hosting in the Parliament such a celebration but… here we are again! and the Israeli wine served this year, maybe in honor of the 60^th anniversary of the state of Israel, is even better”