January 12, 2006
The International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP) has unanimously selected Congressman Gary L. Ackerman as its first president. Ackerman, a member of the US House of Representatives from New York, will now chair the body's executive and preside over the ICJP's next meeting, which will take place in 2007 in Washington. Ackerman, along with a group of 12 vice-presidents from around the world, was elected at an ICJP assembly in Jerusalem, which ended on Tuesday. Lord Janner of Braunstone, a Member of the British House of Lords, convened the Jerusalem conference and will continue to serve as one of the members of the ICJP executive. The ICJP is a newly established global forum of Jewish parliamentarians and legislators which convened officially for the first time this week in Jerusalem. Drawing nearly 70 representatives from 30 nations, the ICJP was created to provide a platform for leaders to cooperate on issues of concern in the Jewish world and the international community, including the spread and growth of anti-Semitism, the need to improve inter-faith relations, and the application of the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam to global problems.
The gathering of the ICJP, which was held from -7-10 January, was sponsored by the World Jewish Congress and included ministers and parliamentarians from 28 countries. Read more...
