WJC Advocates for Jewish Communities at UNGA as October 7th Anniversary Nears

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder met with Austrian Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Schallenberg on Friday afternoon. President Lauder expressed gratitude for Austria’s strong support of Israel, particularly in multilateral forums like the United Nations, where Austria has consistently defended Israel’s right to self defense and worked to counter anti-Israel narratives. Lauder, a former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, also underscored his deep personal connection to the country and his commitment to strengthening ties with Austria’s Jewish community.

There are approximately 10,000 Jews currently living in Austria. The Austrian affiliate of the World Jewish Congress is the Jewish Community of Vienna. 

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder met with Swedish Foreign Minister Malmer Stenergard on Friday at the Consulate General of Sweden in New York. The conversation focused on the rise of antisemitism following the October 7th terrorist attack and the situation in the Middle East. President Lauder praised Sweden’s balanced and constructive approach to the region, emphasizing the need for Israel to defend itself, as highlighted in the Foreign Minister's UN speech yesterday.

They also discussed the importance of securing the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza, fostering regional stability, and advancing a viable two-state solution. President Lauder expressed gratitude for Sweden’s strong and ongoing support for the Jewish community, particularly in ensuring its safety and promoting the unrestricted growth of the country’s only Jewish school.

There are approximately 20,000 Jews currently living in Sweden. The Swedish affiliate of the World Jewish Congress is the Jewish Central Council.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder met with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares Bueno on Thursday evening at the Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations. During their meeting, President Lauder emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the Spanish government and the Spanish Jewish community, whose population has grown significantly in recent years. The discussion also addressed the evolving situation in the Middle East, with President Lauder urging a more balanced approach towards the region.

There are approximately 45,000 Jews living in Spain. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain is the Spanish affiliate of the World Jewish Congress.

NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S. Lauder met today with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the U.K.’s Mission to the United Nations, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two leaders discussed the global rise in antisemitism and escalating tensions in the Middle East following the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.

The Foreign Secretary, who has visited Israel twice in his current role and has an extensive record of engaging with the Jewish community throughout his political career, reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to addressing these critical issues. Lammy has actively raised the plight of hostages taken by Hamas and was commended during the meeting for his efforts to keep this humanitarian crisis in the spotlight.

During the meeting, Amb. Lauder expressed his appreciation for Lammy's close collaboration with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, WJC’s U.K. affiliate, particularly in tackling antisemitism within the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. Amb. Lauder stressed the need for ongoing support of Israel as it defends itself against terrorism. He reminded Lammy that Israel remains one of the U.K.'s closest allies, whereas the extremist ideologies of Hamas and Hezbollah pose threats not only to Israel but to the values shared by both the U.K. and Israel.

Amb. Lauder also raised concerns about the U.K.’s recent partial suspension of arms licenses for Israel, urging the U.K. to maintain its strong partnership with Israel and underscoring its right to self-defense in the wake of terror attacks.

In a statement following the meeting, Amb. Lauder said: “I want to extend my deepest thanks to Foreign Secretary David Lammy for his time, his leadership and his unwavering commitment to protecting the Jewish community in the United Kingdom amid rising threats. The Foreign Secretary has demonstrated this commitment through his numerous visits to Israel and his close engagement with the U.K. Jewish community. His continued efforts to highlight the plight of the hostages taken by Hamas, as well as his ongoing coordination with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, reflect his dedication to our shared cause."

Lauder added, “While recent decisions regarding arms licenses are a point of concern, it’s essential to remember that Israel remains the U.K.’s friend and ally. The values of Hamas and Hezbollah do not align with those of the United Kingdom, and Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism must be supported at every level.”

“At this delicate time in international relations, I thank the foreign secretary for his engagement and wish him every success in his work towards international peace and security,” Lauder said.

NEW YORK—World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder met with Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto van Klaveren on Thursday afternoon at the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations. Lauder expressed the WJC’s desire to rebuild and foster a stronger relationship between the Chilean government and the Chilean Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism globally in the wake of Hamas’s October 7th terror attack, and the subsequent Israeli response.

During the conversation, which centered on the situation in the Middle East, Lauder underscored the critical need for a viable two-state solution.

There are approximately 18,300 Jews currently living in Chile. The Chilean affiliate of the World Jewish Congress is the Jewish Community of Chile.

WJC's Executive Vice President Maram Stern and European Affairs Manager Dany Levin Prist, along with JD Elizabeth Chen (US), met with the Hungarian Mission to discuss the Jewish community in Hungary and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation. 

WJC Director of International Affairs and Representative to the UN, Yfat Barak-Cheney, along with JD Danielle Murad Weiss (US), met with the Mexican Mission to address challenges faced by the Jewish community in Mexico and explore strategies for strengthening communal ties.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder met with Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini on Thursday morning at the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations. The conversation focused on the situation in the Middle East and the rise of antisemitism following the October 7 terror attacks. President Lauder expressed gratitude for Slovakia's strong stance in solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community.

There are approximately 2,600 Jews currently living in Slovakia. The Slovakian affiliate of the World Jewish Congress is the Federation of Jewish Communities in Slovakia.

On Sidelines of UNGA, WJC President Lauder Praises Greece FM Gerapetritis for Solidarity with Israel WJC President Ronald S. Lauder met with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on Thursday morning at the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations. President Lauder conveyed his profound deep appreciation for Greece’s strong solidarity with Israel following the October 7 terror attacks. The conversation further centered on Greece’s forthcoming role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term, with President Lauder underscoring the importance of Greece’s support for Israel within this vital international forum. The Foreign Minister emphasized the critical importance of safeguarding European Jewry, highlighting Greece's commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety of Jewish communities across Europe.

President Lauder also recently met with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

There are approximately 5,000 Jews currently living in Greece. The Greek affiliate of the World Jewish Congress is the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece.

NEW YORK – On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Elevate hosted a diplomatic roundtable on Thursday, featuring French Ambassador for Human Rights Isabelle Rome and the mother of an Israeli hostage held captive in Gaza.

Reflecting on her tenure as France’s former Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Equal Opportunities, Rome underscored that human rights are not a charitable cause but a core value essential to shaping societal conduct.

Ayelet Samerano then shared a powerful testimony about her son, Jonathan Samerano, who was kidnapped from the Nova Festival on October 7 and remains a hostage of Hamas. She described her journey of resilience and her continued hope as the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war approaches.

The roundtable concluded with WJC NextGen and Jewish Diplomatic Corps members engaging Ambassador Rome in a discussion on combating antisemitism and strengthening solidarity within Jewish communities.