The Lauder Fellows convened in Brussels to start the Diplomacy Summit with a welcome address from Yoni Hammerman, Director of WJC Elevate.

Dany Levin Prist, WJC Director of EU Affairs, gave a comprehensive introduction to the structure and functions of the European Union's various governing bodies and institutions.

Emily Bowman, WJC EU Affairs & Diplomatic Outreach Officer, shared insights on navigating diplomacy and advocacy as a young professional. In a group activity, the Fellows analyzed modern-day challenges facing Jewish communities and presented solutions to the EU Commission, Parliament, and Council.

Anna De Marchi, Policy Officer of the DG CONNECT Communications Networks, Content & Technology Directorate at the European Commission, provided an overview of the EU’s legal approaches to identifying and combating online hate, including key legislation such as the Digital Services Act.

Dr. h.c. Katharina von Schnurbein, Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism & Fostering Jewish Life at the European Commission, highlighted the institution's initiatives and best practices to combat rising antisemitism and foster Jewish life across Europe.

Marc Leoutre, Deputy Head of Unit D2: Counterterrorism, Anti-Radicalisation, Critical Infrastructure at the European Commission, briefed the Fellows on the terror threats facing European Jewry and the need for heightened security and safety mechanisms.

Ambassador Bálint Ódor, Hungarian Permanent Representative to the EU, discussed Hungary's work within the European Union and its renewed commitment to protecting the Jewish community against the surge of antisemitism.

The Fellows embarked on a guided tour of the European Council, gaining a deeper understanding of the Council and how the body defines the priorities and political direction of the EU.

Catarina Cognini, former Lauder Fellow and Accredited Parliamentary Assistant to European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno, gave a guided tour of the European Parliament.

The group heard from Ariella Woitchik, EJC Director of European Affairs, and Dylan Bokler, EJC Policy Officer, who spoke about the organization's effort to enact safeguards for the Jewish community and enable Jewish life to thrive.

Hannah Neumann, MEP of the Greens/European Free Alliance in Germany, led a candid conversation with the Fellows about her work as the chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iran. In turn, the Fellows shared their experiences with navigating antisemitism and its conflation with anti-Zionism.

Sarah Wheaton, Agriculture and Food Editor at POLITICO Europe, spoke about working as a Brussels-based reporter, sharing what she's learned from covering European Union affairs and the challenges that come with the job. 

In a discussion with WJC Chief Operations Officer John Malkinson, Lauder Fellows learned about the WJC’s mission to protect Jewish communities and shared their own experiences with antisemitism on university campuses. 

Baroness Regina Slusznyi-Suchowolski, chairwoman of the Forum der Joodse Organisaties and a Holocaust survivor, spoke about her experience as a hidden child during the Holocaust. 

At the Embassy of Israel in the Hague, the Fellows held meetings focused on Israel’s diplomatic, legal, and public diplomacy efforts in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attacks, with particular attention to antisemitism, international legal challenges, and strategic communications.

Meetings took place with:

• Yaron Wax, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• Amit Heuman, Legal Advisor at the Embassy of Israel to the Netherlands and member of the legal team representing Israel before the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
• Dafna Danenberg, Head of Public Diplomacy and Press at the Israeli Embassy to the Netherlands, focusing on social media engagement and cultural diplomacy initiatives.

The Fellows visited the International Criminal Court in the Hague, where they learned about the institution's mandate and jurisdiction, including the work that the ICC Trust Fund for Victims does to support victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and aggression.

Julian Lanches, a research fellow for the Current and Emerging Threats Programme at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, briefed the cohort on how emerging antisemitic and extremist threats across social media lead to radicalization, and the steps taking to monitor and mitigate those threats.

The Fellows ended the day with a debrief session, where they reflected on the past four days and shared the results of their work plans.

Eddo Verdoner, National Coordinator for Combatting Antisemitism in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, spoke about his work and his collaboration with other antisemitism envoys, particularly through the WJC SECCA Forum.

The Lauder Fellows concluded the Diplomacy Summit with a review of the past year, as they prepare for next steps.