19/01/2024 (Agence Europe) – Seventeen MEPs, mainly from The Left, but also Giuliano Pisapia (S&D, Italian) and Saskia Bricmont (Greens/EFA, Belgian), are calling on the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, to intercede to prevent the expulsion from the Knesset of Ofer Cassif, who has supported South Africa’s application to the ‘International Court of Justice’ against Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Mr Ofer has always opposed Israeli “colonisation” in the West Bank and advocates “peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, in line with EU positions”, they state in an open letter initiated by Özlem Alev Demirel (The Left, German) on Friday 19 January. They are also calling for Mr Ofer to be invited to the European Parliament as a sign of solidarity. (MB)