The Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Israel MA Milovan Drecun and PFG member Dr Ugljesa Mrdic had a video meeting with members of the Knesset’s Parliamentary Friendship Group with Serbia, in the presence of the two countries’ ambassadors, to traditionally celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah together.
MA Milovan Drecun said that the October events, in which thousands of members of the Jewish people lost their lives at the hands of Hamas terrorists, and hundreds were kidnapped and taken hostage, unequivocally showed that darkness still looms over the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
"Hanukkah reminds us of the importance of togetherness, hope and kindness, values that are essential in the difficult times that have loomed over the entire world. That is why today, it is more important than ever to come together in the spirit of brotherhood and peace. With the wish that the holiday of light be filled with spiritual well-being and peace, I express my belief that our two peoples, which have confirmed their unbreakable ties throughout history, will continue to cherish their traditional friendship, building joint progress and successes. The lighting of Hanukkah candles symbolizes joy and happiness, may the light of this holiday illuminate all people of good will," said MA Drecun.
He recalled the strong historical closeness between the Serbian and Jewish people, which stems from the fact that they shared the same fate and suffered greatly during World War II, which strengthened mutual understanding. "Freedom has always had a high price for our peoples," he said.
Drecun said that it is now the task of parliamentarians, in the National Assembly and the Knesset, to preserve, nurture, develop and advance this friendship, emphasising that this is "a debt owed to the generations of ancestors who laid the bright foundations of friendship and cooperation between Jews and Serbs."
Milovan Drecun also recalled the difficult position of the Serbian people in Kosovo-Metohija, who are exposed to daily terror and deprivation of basic human rights by the regime in Pristina. He emphasised that Kosovo-Metohija is a sacred Serbian land and that the attitude towards Kosovo-Metohija deeply touches on the most sensitive identity issues of the Serbian people and their cultural and historical heritage.
The Head of the Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group with Serbia in the Knesset Boaz Toporovsky, also expressed his gratitude for the gathering to celebrate Hanukkah.
The meeting was also attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Serbia Avivit Bar-Ilan and the Serbian Ambassador to Israel Miroljub Petrovic, the Honorary Consul of Serbia in Israel Aleksandar Nikolic, as well as the Rabbi of Serbia Isak Asiel and the family of the kidnapped young man Alon Ohel, who has both Serbian and Israeli citizenship.
The officials jointly expressed their hope and desire that those kidnapped in the Hamas terrorist attack would be returned to their families.
Milovan Drecun expressed his commiseration with the suffering and horrors that the hostages and their families are going through, noting that many have tragically ended their lives. He pointed out that the PFG with Israel had recently met with the family of Alon Ohel and that he was amazed by their strength and determination to fight for the life and release of their son everywhere, wherever they can, adding that we all hope to rejoice in his freedom.
After the meeting, candles were lit to symbolize the holiday of light, and the Head of the PFG with Israel, MA Milovan Drecun congratulated "on behalf of our friendship, the holiday of freedom and light to all Jews and the state of Israel, Hanukkah Lesimha!”