"The Arab spring has turned into winter. The Middle East has never been more volatile than it is now,’’ World Jewish Congress President Ronald S.Lauder said at a forum hosted by the Israel Council on Foreign Relations (ICFR) in Jerusalem on Monday. The gathering preceded the meeting of the WJC Executive Committee, which takes place this week in the Israeli capital.
"It is a pleasure to host so many young ambassadors here. In my days as an ambassador, I have learnt that very often, young diplomats are those who have ideas that are outside the box and can provide creative solutions,’’ Lauder said. The ambassadors of the US, Russia and Germany to Israel, respectively Dan Shapiro, Sergey Yakovlev and Andreas Michaelis, spoke the young diplomats forum, an initiative of the ICFR, which operates under the auspices of the WJC.
‘’To have these three countries, all which have a significant Jewish population and play an important part in the international arena here emphasizes the strong relationship they have with Israel," Lauder said.
The Russian ambassador to Israel said his country viewed talks between Israelis and Palestinians as "a giant step forward." He said: "Many steps have been made, and we feel that both sides are serious about the negotiations. We believe there will be results in the near future... We understand the security threats to Israel and we know both sides will have to go down a long and winding road. However, a solution is possible. There is much importance to the future of Jerusalem, specifically with the value of free and unimpeded access for the different religions."
Regarding Syria, Yakovlev stated: "Russian diplomacy works around the clock to find a solution to the situation and are pleased with the progress. Nevertheless, we must not forget other aspects of the Syrian situation. We are concerned about the Human Rights aspect, as the situation is complex due to many regions of Syria that are controlled by the opposition. We believe that the Syrian government will find ways to bring support to all the regions. Russia and the United States will deal together with this issue. Our joint goal is to help Syrians combat terrorism and extremism."
Yair Lapid: Anti-Semitism and racism must not be overlooked
Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid, former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Texas Governor Rick Perry were speakers at the opening dinner of the WJC Executive.
Lapid, the son of former Israeli Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, recalled how his father survived the massacre in which his entire community was murdered by hiding in a public restroom. The fact that his father came to Israel and the parents of many in his audience went to the United States was a matter of chance, he said. "The division between us, is just a historical accident... I could be you and you could be me” and as such, he explained, “If somebody raises his hand on a Jew in Detroit it is happening to me.”
Lapid went on to say: “If gravestones are being desecrated in the Jewish cemetery in Ukraine it is happening to me, if Muslims are stabbing a Jewish rabbi in the streets of Paris it is happening to me."
“This is why I stood there in the Hungarian parliament... and I told them I am guest in your house. And guests are not supposed to embarrass their hosts, but we will miss the whole idea if we renounce the fact that the genocide of this scope couldn’t have happened without the active help of tens of thousands of Hungarians and the silence of millions of others.”
Rick Perry: Israel a bright and shining star in Middle East
Also invited to speak at the WJC’s Executive Committee meeting was Texas Governor Rick Perry (pictured left), who called Israel “a bright and shining star” in the Middle East. “I am proud to be a partner to a state that has the economic and educational opportunities to bring peace to this region – and to the world,” Perry, who was a contender for the 2012 Republican presidential ticket, told the dinner guests.
Perry, who is in Israel to promote trade with Texas, also made reference to the contentious battle of the Alamo, where a small group of Texan revolutionaries fought to the death for Texan independence. “You can not understand who we are as a people, where 178 individuals were surrounded by thousands of Mexican forces [who] realized that their fate was going to be death,” he said. “You can not think about that moment in Texan history and not think about standing at the top of Masada. And you realize that Texas and Israel were meant to be partners,” the governor told the audience.
Avigdor Lieberman: No "political" solution to Middle East conflict
Lieberman, who currently serves as chairman of the Knesset committee on foreign affairs, said the real problems in the Middle East had“no link” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “For years we have dealt with misrepresentation of the conflict. Today, it is clear by what is happening in Syria and Egypt, that the problem is primarily internal and domestic. It is not the conflict, or the Jews - it is the radical Islamic wing in Arab society."
Lieberman added that, in his view, the biggest stumbling block to resolving the Palestinian issue was not political, but financial, having little to do with the settlements or refugees. Therefore the solution to the conflict could not be political, as “it is impossible to impose peace.”
In his concluding remarks, Lieberman thanked the WJC warmly for its support of Israel. “You are our second Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thanks for your support and friendship,” he said.
WJC Executive to discuss challenges facing world Jewry
The Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), which was elected at the Plenary Assembly in Budapest last May, is meeting in Jerusalem to discuss matters of importance to the Jewish world. Members will hear from Jewish community leaders in Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and Ukraine about the situation with respect to extreme-right political parties represented in parliament.
Other topics on the agenda include the situation of Jewish communities in Latin America, the new EU guidelines on funding which exclude Israeli entities based in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem, limitations to freedom of religion, notably kosher slaughter and religious circumcision, Israel-Diaspora relations, moderate Islam in Central Asia, and the WJC’s young adult initiatives in North America.
The meeting is chaired by WJC President Ronald S. Lauder.
Photos: Shimon Arbiv
