Brussels , July 5, 2004. - The European Coalition for Israel, a Christian initiative launched in March this year, will be headed by Rijk van Dam, who is Member of the European Parliament since 1997. Dutchman Van Dam, born 1952, is a member of European Parliament’s Permanent delegation for Israel since 1999.

The Coalition was established by various European Christian groups in order to promote European-Israeli Cooperation. Among them are the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Bridges for Peace, Christians for Israel International and Christian Friends of Israel.

During his membership of the European Parliament Van Dam was a strong advocate for the safety of the people in Israel, for transparency in EU funding of the Palestinian Authorities and against anti-Semitism. He was one of the initiators of an annual day commemorating the Holocaust in Europe and of the request for an parliamentary inquiry on the major sponsorship by the EU of the Palestinian Authority. On his proposal the European Parliament decided that absolutely no cent from the European Union indirectly may be spent on defamation, anti-Semitism, racial hatred etc.

Rijk van Dam will be involved with European Parliament and with national governments and parliaments in the European Union to explain the growing threats to the democratic state of Israel and to the Jewish people. After leaving the European Parliament this summer, Van Dam starts as Director of the Coalition on October 1, 2004.