To avoid far-right minister Ben Gvir, the EU cancels Israel's welcome.

The European Union canceled a diplomatic reception to celebrate Europe Day in Tel Aviv due to avoid giving a platform to Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Ben Gvir, the leader of the nationalist Jewish Power party, fired back that the EU was practicing “undiplomatic gagging.” The decision for the EU to call off the reception went to the top of the bloc’s foreign policy leadership, an EU diplomat told The diplomat said the EU was mystified by the Israeli government decision to send Ben Gvir to the reception, and that there is a rotation of government ministers who attend diplomatic events. Israeli government officials told CNN that there is a rotation of government ministers who attend diplomatic events, and that it happened to be Ben Gvir’s turn.