State of Israel reminds Europe of God’s existence, says Tomas Sandell in new CNE podcast
Tomas Sandell. Photo private, Canva
European Union
The very existence of Israel is an “annoying reminder” that there is a God. That is what Tomas Sandell has learned from the rise of antisemitism in recent years.
Tomas is the director of the European Coalition for Israel (EC4I). He usually travels between Brussels, New York, and Geneva. But he joins CNE from his home country, Finland, to discuss faith, politics, and the spiritual meaning behind today’s headlines.
He has witnessed antisemitism surge during the war in Gaza. For him, hatred against the Jews is “very irrational” and is nothing less than “anti-God”. Speaking with host Evert van Vlastuin, he observes: “People who struggle with godly Judeo-Christian values often also have a big problem with Israel.”
The relationship between the European Union and Israel has always been good. Sandell stresses that this even improved under the leadership of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Tensions between Europe and Israel were more with the member states. After the Hamas terrorist attacks in October 2023, nine member states recognised Palestinian statehood. Sandell is not impressed. “All because of domestic problems,” he explains in the interview.
He recalls attending the UN General Assembly in late September, where President Macron announced France’s recognition. “That was really a flop. There were few delegates, and most at a low level.” In the podcast, he answers whether recognition is a European trend.
For him personally, Israel was always there. This is rooted in his Christian upbringing in the Swedish-speaking community of Finland. “David was always my king, Daniel was always my prophet, and Abraham was a patriarch of my faith. It was never difficult to make that connection.”
🎧 Listen to the full conversation on the CNE podcast — where faith and current affairs meet.
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