Paris – Labor legislator Emilie Moatti was appointed head of the Knesset Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs and Public Diplomacy on Sept. 12. This powerful and prestigious subcommittee oversees Israel’s foreign relations, including its ties with other countries, with institutions abroad and with international organizations. In fact, only two weeks after her appointment, Moatti arrived in France, for meetings with her peers at the French Parliament and Senate in Paris, and for the autumn parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Clearly, the visit by Moatti, who speaks French fluently and is intimately familiar with the continent, reveals the determination of the Bennett government to rehabilitate its ties with the European Union in general, France in particular. A joint Sept. 15 decision by Israel and the EU to mutually recognize coronavirus vaccine certificates certainly goes in that direction. Israel’s foreign ministry said that details of the agreement should be finalized by early October, offering vaccinated Israeli tourists and businesspeople access to restaurants, cultural centers, public institutions and more across the European continent.

‘’The ability to travel and visit the world is the basis for ensuring ties between peoples and nations. Mutual recognition of the vaccinated certificates between Israel and the European Union is an important step in preparing the ground for a return to routine, in everything related to aviation and tourism ties between Israel and the European Union,’’ tweeted Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Since taking office, Lapid had invested significant efforts in improving Israel’s diplomatic ties with the EU. In July, he visited Brussels and participated at the monthly meeting of the EU’s foreign ministers. It was the first time for several years that an Israeli minister addressed that meeting.