The Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Monday confirmed Daniel Diker, 50, as new secretary general of the international umbrella organization representing Jewish communities in 92 countries. Taking place on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the WJC’s founding in 1936, Diker’s appointment comes at a time of unprecedented importance for the global Jewish community. Diker, a noted foreign policy expert who grew up in New York and moved to Israel two decades ago, follows Michael Schneider, who served as WJC secretary general for the past four years.
Referring to the protests across the Arab world and the planned vote on Palestinian statehood in the United Nations, WJC President Ronald S. Lauder remarked: “Perhaps more than ever before, the international community is witnessing a variety of pivotal changes which will impact very heavily on the global Jewish community. The coming months present an important opportunity for the Jewish world to offer a united voice on these developments so that the vital interests of the global Jewish communities are recognized and acted upon.”
Diker takes up the post following a career as a public policy analyst and journalist. In his acceptance speech, he told the 250 delegates and guests: “The power of the World Jewish Congress is in our ability to unite the Jewish world around the values of human rights, civil rights and equal rights and to stand firmly, courageously and even defiantly as a free people. With all the sweeping developments and constant threats to our very existence, it is incumbent upon us as a global Jewish people to rally behind these historic values to promote our unity and resolve.” Diker vowed that the WJC would continue "to fight for human rights, equal rights, and Jewish rights."
The opening dinner of the meeting of the WJC Governing Board in Jerusalem was addressed by Israel’s President Shimon Peres who saluted the organization by saying, “The World Jewish Congress played an integral role in the very founding of the Jewish state.” Peres’ address focused on the many contributions that Israel continues to present to the global community and how its developments in areas such as medicine, nanotechnology and agriculture are changing the world for the better.
Israeli industrialist and philanthropist Nochi Dankner was the recipient of the World Jewish Congress’s Herzl Award for service to Israel and the Jewish world.
Apart from Peres, Israeli leaders including Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, his deputy Daniel Ayalon, and opposition leader Tzipi Livni also spoke at the gathering. Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, a co-founder of the Friends of Israel Initiative, addressed the opening dinner on Sunday, and former president of Uruguay Luis Alberto Lacalle spoke at a dinner celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WJC. International Quartet for the Middle East Representative Tony Blair gave a briefing to delegates on the current state of the peace process.
