Mission statement
Transatlantic Friends of Israel
The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) is a cross-party, inter-parliamentary group dedicated to the postwar order of transatlantic security and cooperation bestowed on us by visionary American and European leaders. We are united in the conviction that Israel, the Middle East’s only liberal democracy, ought to be understood as an integral part of this vital security, political, and economic architecture.
We affirm that the alliance between Europe, the United States, Canada, and Israel is anchored in shared values, interests, and history. This partnership is a crucial vehicle to strengthen our security and prosperity and to protect the rules-based international order.
We recognize that the threats we face today – from rising extremism and terrorism to radical regimes and nuclear proliferation – require ever closer cooperation among our democracies. In this struggle, Israel is Europe’s and America’s first line of defense in a volatile region. With its first-class security services, cutting-edge high-tech sector, and thriving knowledge-based economy, the Jewish state is a vital ally and partner.
We urge Europe, the United States, Canada, and Israel to deepen their political, security and economic cooperation within the framework of a strong partnership. We refuse to allow the inevitable differences that arise even among the closest partners to jeopardize this bond.
In Focus
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Campaign
Transatlantic Declaration: The EU Must Ban Hezbollah
In an unprecedented transatlantic initiative, hundreds of cross-party lawmakers from Europe, North America, and Israel urged the EU to designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization. The leadership of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) launched the campaign on 17 July 2020, the eve of the twin anniversaries of Hezbollah’s deadly bomb attacks on the AMIA Jewish community center in Argentina in 1994 and an Israeli tourist bus in Bulgaria in 2012.
Members
Membership
The growing membership of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) includes lawmakers from both sides of the Atlantic committed to strengthening the partnership between the United States, Israel, Canada, and Europe.
News
Major News Outlets Cover Call for EU Ban of Hezbollah
On the anniversary eve of Hezbollah's bomb attacks in Argentina in 1994 and Bulgaria in 2012, the leadership of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) presented to EU leaders a historic call for an EU ban of Hezbollah signed by over 240 lawmakers from 27 European countries, the U.S., Canada, and Israel. The declaration launch received wide coverage in the international media, including in POLITICO Europe, as well as in newspapers in the US, Germany, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, the Baltics and of course Israel:
Webinar: Over 240 Lawmakers Call for EU Hezbollah Ban
On the twin anniversary eve of Hezbollah's bomb attacks in Argentina (1994) and Bulgaria (2012), the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) called on the EU to finally ban the terror group. The declaration was covered by global media outlets including POLITICO Europe, The Hill, Die Welt, Gazeta Wyborcza and The Jerusalem Post. At the virtual launch event, TFI Chair MEP Lukas Mandl, TFI Vice Chair MEP Dietmar Köster, AJC Transatlantic Institute Director Daniel Schwammenthal, and the Washington Institute’s Hezbollah expert Matthew Levitt discussed the initiative’s impact. AJC CEO David Harris delivered concluding remarks.
Hundreds of Lawmakers from Europe, North America, and Israel Call for EU Ban of Hezbollah
Brussels, 17 July 2020 – In an unprecedented transatlantic initiative, over 230 cross-party lawmakers from Europe, North America, and Israel urged the EU to designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization. The leadership of the ...
Transatlantic Dialogues (Part 2): MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou and Rep. Brian Mast
Part two of the Transatlantic Dialogues series bringing together legislators from both sides of the Atlantic featured Greek MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). Moderated by AJC Transatlantic Institute Director Daniel Schwammenthal, the lawmakers covered a wide range of issues, from international trade and Iranian belligerency to relations with China and opportunities and challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Can the transatlantic partners find some much-needed common ground? Find out in this webinar!
Transatlantic Dialogues (Part 1): Rep. Ted Deutch and MEP Lukas Mandl
Relations between the U.S. and the EU have experienced unprecedented strains in recent years. In this first Transatlantic Dialogues webinar moderated by Julie Rayman Fishman, AJC Deputy Director for Policy and Diplomatic Affairs in Washington, Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl, Chair of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI), and U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism, discuss how the two sides can overcome their differences on Iran, Russia, Israel, and other key issues.
Germany’s Hezbollah Ban a Model for Europe?
After Germany’s decision last week to ban Hezbollah, the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) caucus held its first webinar entitled “Europe and Hezbollah: A New EU Approach to Iran's Proxy.“ Moderator Daniel Schwammenthal discussed with TFI Chair and Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl, EU Parliament Vice President from Germany Nicola Beer, and Michael Doran from the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute the significance of Berlin’s momentous decision, the prospects for the EU to follow suit, and a common transatlantic approach to Iran and its terror proxies.
TFI Statement on EU-Israel Cooperation to Battle Coronavirus
Brussels, 27 April 2020
The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) group calls for stronger EU-Israel and transatlantic cooperation on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the world fights a deadly disease that knows no borders, it’s incumbent upon the family of Western...
Austrian Parliament Condemns BDS
Quoted in The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, TFI Chair Lukas Mandl hailed the Austrian parliament's condemnation of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel: “The Austrian parliament’s historic decision today to condemn any boycotts of Israeli goods shows that Austria stands on the side of Israel – not half-heartedly, but with full conviction."
Statement on Austrian Parliament's Anti-BDS Bill
Vienna, 27 February 2020 - The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) group welcomed the Austrian parliament’s condemnation of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, urging the Austrian government and other EU member states to heed the resolution’s call. Supported...
Leading MEPs Call for EU Sanctions Against Iran
The Jerusalem Post reported that two leading lawmakers from the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) - the cross-party caucus promoting EU-Israel-U.S. ties - called for EU sanctions against the Iranian regime. Austrian MEP and TFI Chair Lukas Mandl said the downing of the Ukrainian passenger jet killing all 176 on board crossed a “red line.” One of TFI’s Vice Chairs, Petras Auštrevičius of Lithuania, demanded Tehran be held accountable “for its terrorist activities that threaten also Europe and our key regional ally, Israel.”
Past events
Supporters
It is an honor to send greetings to the Transatlantic Friends of Israel, a new cross-party parliamentary friendship group dedicated to fostering strong transatlantic ties with Israel. Key foreign policy issues - including stalwart support for our allies in Europe and in Israel - traditionally enjoy bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. It is my hope that the Transatlantic Friends of Israel can work towards achieving the same unwavering support in Europe for the Jewish state.
As a long-time believer in the deepening of transatlantic ties and a staunch supporter of Israel, I was delighted to learn about AJC’s new Transatlantic Friends of Israel inter-parliamentary friendship group. With a clear set of common interests and values, this trilateral project could not have come soon enough. As this group continues to grow and expand, I look forward to working together to pursue our agenda of partnership and friendship.
