Ambassador's 9-Day-Old Daughter Sleeps in Shelter: 'People Here Are Tough, From Siren Back to Wine'

In a podcast interview, EU Ambassador to Israel Michael Mann discusses Israeli resilience during wartime, his family's experience with sirens, antisemitism in Europe, and his love for Israeli food. He describes how his daughter was born nine days before Operation 'Roar of the Lion' and how they slept in a shelter for a month. He condemns antisemitism and expresses support for the two-state solution.

In an interview on the podcast "The Ambassador's Room" by the Center for Jewish Impact, EU Ambassador to Israel Michael Mann shared his personal and political experiences. He said his daughter was born in Israel in mid-February, nine days before the start of Operation "Roar of the Lion," and that the family slept in their home shelter for nearly a month. Mann praised Israeli resilience and the speed of returning to routine, describing how people come out of the shelter and go back to their wine. He addressed the rise in antisemitism in Europe since October 7, calling it "shameful," and distinguished between legitimate criticism of Israel and hatred of Jews. He detailed the EU's strategy to combat antisemitism. On policy, Mann reiterated the EU's support for the two-state solution, stressed that Hamas will have no role in Gaza, and called for its disarmament. He noted that the EU conditions funds to the Palestinian Authority on implementing reforms, and that the EU trains Palestinian police in the West Bank.