WJC Robert Singer tells World Summit on Counter-Terrorism: “Civil society and government authorities must work together to defeat this modern evil”

HERZLIYA, ISRAEL – In an address to the World Summit on Counter-Terrorism on Tuesday, World Jewish Congress CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer spoke of the WJC’s ongoing efforts to enhance the security of Jewish communities worldwide and said: “In the 100 plus countries in which Jewish communities form an integral part of society, it is the governments and security services of those countries and localities who bear the ultimate responsibility.” 

In light of growing terror, Singer said, the WJC developed a comprehensive security program at the request of its communities, focused on researching threats, assisting in crisis management, laying physical security infrastructure, and advocating for increased local security support. Since its establishment in 2015, the WJC’s Security and Crisis Center World has operated in dozens of countries across the globe.

“The WJC does not seek to duplicate or replace the role of law enforcement authorities. We do, however, strive to raise awareness of particular threats facing Jewish communities, to enhance and support the efforts of governments and local authorities to provide security, and to facilitate cooperation between them and the communities,” Singer explained.

While Jews remain a central target for terrorism, Singer said, an ever-greater number of countries, communities, and societies, and individuals – “Western society as a whole” - are also being targeted across the globe.  “Jews, Christians, and Muslims, innocent people of every nationality and creed. Today, people understand what we have a single common enemy determined to disrupt our lives and bring down society, that all of us are potential victims. It is imperative, therefore, that civil society join with governmental authorities to fight against and defeat the forces behind this modern evil.”

“We will not be terrorized,” Singer concluded his address. “Not now, and not tomorrow.”

The World Summit on Counter-Terrorism takes places September 3-6, under the auspices of the Inter-Disciplinary Center of Herzliya’s International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, which operates with the support of WJC President Ronald S. Lauder.

Delegates to the conference were to be addressed by high-profile security experts, government officials, and international figures, among them former Mossad Chief Shabtai Shavit, Director of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism Dr. Jehangir Khan, and NATO Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security Arndt von Loringhoven, inter alia.