Conference of Presidents Mission returns to Jerusalem (photo essay)

By BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Posted on 02/20/22

Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 20, 2022 - After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, US Jewish leaders have convened in Jerusalem, Israel for the 47th Conference of Presidents National Leadership Mission (CoP), February  20-24, 2022. The 50-person delegation includes top leaders from the Conference’s 50-member organizations and its National Leadership Council. 

Speaking to open the Mission, CoP CEO William Daroff commented, “The Conference of Presidents is proud to be the first major national delegation of American Jewish leaders to arrive for in-person meetings with Israel’s leadership after the last two years of the pandemic." He noted that 2 speakers had tested positive, therefore the program would be changing. Wearing masks inside, testing each day, and social distancing are features of this conference. 

"The threats faced by Israel, and the Jewish community around the world, have not gone away because of the pandemic – indeed, in many ways, some issues like antisemitic attacks, and the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon are in sharper focus than before. It is also important that we engage on the issue of the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora, after two years of being unable to travel and stand side by side as we are so used to doing. We are looking forward to holding a range of talks and hearing from the full spectrum of Israeli leaders on these and other important topics," Daroff added.

To open the conference was Amb. Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem, on the topic of  Holocaust Denial and Distortion: What’s the Difference and Why it Matters? Yad Vashem Dayan said needs to tell the story, again and again. Education and research, not in the US or Germany, but in Israel to move forward is the vision he related to the delegates.

After a buffet lunch, Herbert Block introduced the expert panel to discuss Iran and its threat to Israel and the world. Moderator Barak Ravid posed questions to Ms. Sima Shine, Head of Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS); Former Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amos Gilead, Executive Director, The Institute for Policy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya.

Betty Ehrenberg then hosted a panel discussion on Israel and Diaspora with journalists, Tal Schneider, Boaz Bismuth, and Lahav  Harkov, moderated by David Horovitz.

After the afternoon with speakers, the delegation went to Jerusalem Municipal Hall at Kikar Safra to meet with Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan Nahoum. From the sixth-floor observation balconies, the visitors were able to enjoy the panoramic views of Jerusalem before returning to the hotel. 

Following are his remarks:

"My friends,

While the world has its eyes glued to the Ukrainian-Russian border, trying to imagine which way history will go, we, in Israel and in the region, are keeping one eye on Ukraine and another on Vienna – where the talks between the world powers and Iran are taking place.

We are looking to Vienna, and we are deeply troubled by what we see.

For Israel and for all the stability-seeking forces in the Middle East, the emerging deal is likely to create a more violent and less stable the Middle East.

While there is no doubt that America is our biggest and strongest friend, ultimately it is us who live in the region, and it is us who will bear the consequences.

Our position is not automatic. We are not against any deal per se.

Many people who supported the original JCPOA then, are very worried today.

When we discuss this matter with our American friends, we all agree on the diagnosis: The Iranians are at a very advanced phase of their uranium enrichment project.

They have crossed one red line after another, including enriching at an unprecedented rate of 60%. This is the situation we – on both sides of the ocean – inherited.

This is the hand we were dealt. There’s no point in playing the blame game. We need to address the challenge.

The single biggest problem with this deal is that in two and a half years, which is right around the corner, Iran will be able to develop, install and operate advanced centrifuges.

Imagine football stadiums of advanced centrifuges spinning – allowed by this agreement. In the meantime, as an advance payment, Iran gets billions of dollars in frozen assets and access to the booming energy market.

Much of this money will be funneled towards attacking Israel. Let me highlight three points that we will all need to address:

1. The agreement leaves Iran on a fast track to military-grade enrichment. And in the time until it sunsets, they won't even have to destroy all those centrifuges they developed over the past few years.

2. The Iranian regime is insisting on closing the open files of the IAEA – these are 'hot investigations' pertaining to possible military dimensions.

Or in simple English: Iran has hidden and is still hiding nuclear-weapon-related materials. It has been caught red-handed, and Iran is demanding that the inspectors that caught them will pretend to forget what they saw.

3. The agreement will pour money, billions of dollars, into the Iranian terror machine – more UAVs, more attacks on ships, more rockets on Israel and our allies through its proxies.

And to cap the chutzpah – Iran is demanding to delist the IRGC.

Do you understand? They are now asking to let the biggest terror organization on earth off the hook. So this agreement indeed creates a set of new challenges for Israel's security.

However, there is no doubt in my mind that we will prevail.

Yes, this agreement will enrich this brutal and corrupt regime – but this is only temporary. If I were an investor, Iran is the last place I would invest in.

Nobody in his right mind should invest in a country whose number one export – is terrorism.

Israel, on the other hand, is stronger than ever, growing by 8% in 2021, a year of COVID.

Our economy is booming and will continue to grow, becoming more competitive and less regulated. Our hi-tech is breaking all records. We are adding more Jewish men and Arab women to the workforce.

We ensured political stability, passed a budget, and our path is as good as ever. We are building unprecedented military capabilities.

It is our duty to provide security to our people while being a reliable ally to our friends.

So yes, there are challenges, but we are up to them.

Let me be clear: Israel won’t accept Iran as a nuclear threshold state.

We have a clear and un-negotiable red line: Israel will always maintain its freedom of action to defend itself.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This government, from day one, made its priority to reach out to the world, to restore and nurture the relations with our neighbors, and to work with both sides of the aisle in the US, as we did in the past. Just this week I’ll be meeting dozens of elected officials from the US – Democrats and Republicans alike.

Despite the differences we have on this agreement, our relations with our friend President Biden and his administration will remain close and strong.

We will continue to focus on Israel's security. We will say, and more importantly, do – everything necessary to ensure it. Thank you."

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's speech before dinner was live-streamed.

Included in the photo essay besides the various speakers - Malcolm Hoenlein, Max Neuberger, Howard Friedman, Nathan Diamant, Norma Holzer, Irwin Cotler, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Joshua Katzen, and Wendy Kahn of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.