Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel hosted Dutch MP Ulysse Ellian in Jerusalem on Monday and discussed increased funding for Holocaust education, Jewish community security, and efforts to have the European Union officially designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Haskel also praised Ellian's "leadership and moral clarity," the ministry announced.
"Ellian is one of the most courageous voices in Europe today — someone who truly understands that the Iranian regime is a threat not only to Israel, but to Europe and the free world. His personal story, as the son of Iranian exiles who fled tyranny, gives him a unique moral perspective and an unwavering commitment to truth," Haskel said.
"In these challenging times, Israel is grateful for principled allies like him who stand with us.”
Ellian also reaffirmed his "enduring support for Israel's fight against terror," expressing "deep concern over the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents across Europe" since Hamas's October 7 massacre.
“Israel is not alone,” said Ellian. “As the son of a family that fled the oppression of the Iranian regime, I will continue to stand with Israel in the fight against this regime and to defend democracy, freedom, and the Jewish people.”
Who is Ulysse Ellian?
Ellian, the son of Tehran-born dissident Afshin Ellian, also states that he has been targeted by pro-regime Iranians who have threatened his life. He was born in Afghanistan in 1988 after his parents fled the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution.
Ellian lives under security protection by Dutch authorities due to his outspoken statements against rising European Islamism and the threats against him from pro-Iranian regime activists.
Haskel described Ellian as "a courageous voice against the Iranian regime and rising antisemitism," while Ellian was visiting Israel for the first time.
Ellian is a leading critic of the Iranian regime in the Netherlands and has steadfastly supported Israel while championing democratic values, defending the Dutch Jewish community, and strengthening Israel-EU cooperation amid rising antisemitism.