Twelve Jewish parliamentarians from around the world gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday for three days of meeting with senior Israeli lawmakers and officials, as part of the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians conference, organized by the World Jewish Congress.
Over the course of the conference, the delegates met with Israeli leaders including Minister of Education and Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett, opposition leader MK Isaac Herzog, MK Yair Lapid, MK Michael Oren and senior officials in the Foreign Ministry and in the Prime Minister’s Office, inter alia. The delegates were welcomed by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein to the plenary, and were hosted for formal dinners at the Knesset and the King David.
“I want to thank you for coming. You have made a strong statement," World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer told the parliamentarians in the closing session of the conference. "This shows the important role you play not just as parliamentarians, but as leaders of your communities."
In their own words, the delegates themselves relate their experiences as Jewish parliamentarians and their take-aways from the Jerusalem meetings:
“I am not a Jewish parliamentarian. I am a Belgian parliamentarian. What’s important for me is to get answers to my questions, to come back to Brussels with the tools to face my contradictors and to brief more parliamentarians about the situation. They don't have to stand for Israel, but they do have to protect the legitimacy of Israel. MP Marc Loewenstein, Parliament of the Brussels Capital Region
“My election was supported by the Jewish community in Brazil. I am both a Jewish parliamentarian and a Brazilian parliamentarian... our work has been the constant surveillance and defense of the State of Israel.” MP Floriano Pesaro, House of Representatives of Sao Paulo
“In both Israel and the United States, there has been an increasing polarization of politics. Right-wing Israelis can identify with right-wing Americans. Liberal American Jews can be critical of the Israeli right, but we find ourselves increasingly distanced from liberal Americans.” Former Canadian MP and Justice Minister Irwin Cotler
“MP Gabriel Silber and I are 100 percent of the Jewish parliamentarians in Chile. For us it is difficult because we have a large Palestinian population and it is hard for us to defend Israel… whatever Israel does, we will defend, but it is becoming more difficult.” MP Daniel Farcas, National Congress of Chile
“What I see in my own community and family is a total detachment from Israel.” Congresswoman Susan Davis, United States House of Representatives
“In the U.S., we take things for granted. It’s not a disadvantage to be Jewish or Jewish parliamentarian; in some ways it’s an advantage… I don’t believe you can separate Israel from the Jewish people, I am always unyielding in my support for Israel.” Congressman Eliot Engel, U.S. House of Representatives
