Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to open this informative and detailed exhibition.

As you can see around you, it tells the story of the 3500 year relationship between the Jewish people and the Holy Land itself.

That relationship has been tried and tested but through grit, determination and faith it has endured.

During that time the Holy Land and its occupants have been at the epicentre of historical events: the times of Abraham and Moses, the Kingdoms of David and Solomon, the Hellenistic Era, Roman rule, Arab ascendancy, the Crusades, Ottoman authority, the British Mandate and of course the establishment in 1948 of the modern state of Israel.

Today, the Holy Land continues its evolution.

It remains an area of enormous historic and religious significance for all three of the Abrahamic faiths – and other religions too – but it is also a scion of modernity, a place of extraordinary forward strides in science, technology and innovation.

Over the centuries, the Holy Land has been the site of triumph and tragedy, hope and loss, tears of joy and pain alike but, throughout it all, the Jewish people have retained their special bond with somewhere that so many call home.

Of course, we are also reminded here today that Europe too remains a home for Jewish people.

Over the centuries, Jewish communities have survived many turbulent times and appalling afflictions in this continent.

The most shocking of all was of course the Shoah, which remains an unparalleled atrocity in human history.

The Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights itself were, in large part, a direct response to that episode of mass murder: a collective endeavor to ensure the principle of “never again”.

We do a great deal to ensure remembrance, particularly in the field of education, and it was fitting that our Ministers of Education chose to meet at the sites of former concentration camps from the Second World War.

But we must not allow the Shoah to obliterate the understanding of Jewish belonging and contribution to Europe.

There was Jewish life here before the Shoah, and there is Jewish life after it too: after all, as this exhibition makes clear, we are talking about a “people of hope”.

Despite the negatives - trauma, exile, persecution - generations have also thrived and contributed greatly to European culture, politics, industry and society – and that is something to celebrate.

European heritage is composed of Jewish heritage, and Jewish heritage is composed of European heritage too.

This fact is recognised by our Organisation through our European Route of Jewish Heritage.

Designated in 2004, this Cultural Route literally marks out the extraordinarily wide and incredibly deep contribution made by Jewish people and communities throughout the continent.

That contribution goes on today and it is essential that those who choose Europe as their home can have confidence in their future here too.

Of course there are challenges to the security of Jewish people in Europe – a fact that we know all too well here in France.

In some places anti-Semitism is on the rise.

It should go without saying that this threat is unacceptable, that we must all remain vigilant and that the full force of the law should be deployed against those who would perpetrate crimes.

But tensions between communities can be defused and prevented by proactive measures too.

In a time of increased fragmentation and populism in parts of our continent, intercultural dialogue is more important than ever.

That is why the Council of Europe puts so much emphasis on inter-communal relations, places such stock in our intercultural cities programme, and pursues initiatives based on our vision of living together as equals.

By talking to one another, working with one another and building links between multiple aspects of our lives we can lift the veil of separation and see one another for all our commonalities and common interests instead.

Where our projects are implemented, we all grow together.

Our Committee of Ministers supports our intercultural dialogue agenda, not least through an annual exchange on its religious dimension.

It does this because they recognise such dialogue as a key tenet for European harmony and security.

Not security in the narrow sense, but in the broadest sense possible:

A continent where we are at peace and at ease with one another, in all our glorious difference, and where every individual and community has the opportunity to thrive.

So for the Holy Land – and for Europe – let us take pride in the rich heritage of the past and work together for a secure and peaceful future.

This is a message that resonates here in Strasbourg, the capital of Europe, and in the Council of Europe as an institution.

I welcome you all.