Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Bulgaria on Thursday to attend the Varna Summit, aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two countries, as well as between the Jewish state and several other European nations.
He also intends to challenge the European Union’s “hypocritical and hostile attitude” towards Israel, he said.
“I leave now to a summit of countries, and I will meet with my friends—the prime ministers of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and the Serbian president,” said Netanyahu. “This is not just a meeting of friends, but it is, of course, to strengthen relations with each of these countries.
“Yet it is also a bloc of countries with whom I want to promote my policy, to change the hypocritical and hostile attitude of the E.U.,” he said.
“This is a process that will take time, but I believe in setting a goal and striving for it systematically, and I believe that this, too, will be achieved over time,” added the prime minister. “This is important for the State of Israel, whose status is rising in the world.”
According to the prime minister’s office, he will meet with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Wednesday evening.
On Friday, Netanyahu will participate in the Craiova Forum and speak again with Borisov, in addition to meeting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
