World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder, Governing Board Chairman David de Rothschild, Treasurer Chella Safra, and CEO Robert Singer expressed their heartfelt congratulations to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the Israeli parliamentary elections earlier this month.
In their letter, the WJC leaders called on Netanyahu to continue to safeguard “Israel’s right to exist as a democrat Jewish state,” and offered the organization’s full support.
The full text of the letter is below:
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the World Jewish Congress, please accept our heartfelt congratulations on your victory in yesterday’s Knesset elections and the opportunity granted to you for a fifth time by the citizens of Israel to form a strong and tenacious government.
Throughout your distinguished career of public service, and in the four terms that you have served as prime minister, you have demonstrated unyielding commitment to the well-being of the State of Israel, its unwavering strength and security in a volatile region, and its position as an esteemed member of the international community.
The results of yesterday’s vote prove that the electorate has strong faith and confidence in you as the leader of the Jewish State and in your ability to enhance their safety and prosperity in the years to come. This election is indeed a celebration of the great democracy that has existed in Israel since its founding, and that continues to thrive to this day.
The State of Israel’s right to exist as a democratic and Jewish state must be safeguarded from existential threats both physical and virtual. The Jewish world will never submit to the threats and pressures of those who espouse terror and violent hatred or seek to delegitimize the State of Israel. The World Jewish Congress and our affiliated communities and organizations worldwide will always stand with Israel to ensure its safety and success for generations to come.
We look forward to continuing to work together with you to advance the common interests of Israel and Jews worldwide, and to augment our unshakable bond, in the spirit of the Talmudic imperative that has sustained us for so long: כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה .
Yours sincerely,
Ronald S. Lauder
President
David de Rothschild
Chairman of the Governing Board
Chella Safra
Treasurer
Robert Singer
CEO & EVP