Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz this morning (Thursday, 22 February 2024) addressed the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which is today concluding its 49th annual convention.
FM Katz called on the heads of organizations and world Jewry to establish a new public diplomacy front that will be jointly shared by Israeli society, the Israeli government and international Jewry - to act against the "axis of evil" led by Iran and radical Islam.
Chairperson Harriet Schleifer, Chief Executive Officer William Daroff and Executive Vice Chairman Emeritus Malcolm Hoenlein thanked the foreign minister for his activities to promote relations between the countries and the fight to eradicate antisemitism in the world.
FM Katz’ full speech:
“It is good to see all the presidents of the major Jewish organizations, here in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. We appreciate your solidarity visit to Israel.
These are challenging times for us all. The brutal attack by the Hamas terrorist organization against the State of Israel and the Jewish people has changed our reality.
The October 7 massacre recalls stories of the Holocaust. My parents, Meir and Malka, may they rest in peace, were both Holocaust survivors.
The horrific stories we hear from the survivors of the Hamas attack remind me of the stories my mother told us about the Holocaust.
Children burned alive, shooting of parents in front of their children. Rape of women. Hamas are the new Nazis.
Copies of Mein Kampf were found by soldiers in many homes in Gaza. We all know what this means.
Israeli society appreciates your support. At a time when our nation is under attack, the Jewish community in the US and around the world stands by Israel.
Your organizations and communities donated helmets and vests to protect our precious soldiers. Your response to the October 7 massacre showed us, and the entire world, that the Jewish people are united.
As you all know, Israel is doing everything in its power to free our 134 abductees who are being held in Gaza. Just last week we carried out a military operation in which two of our hostages were rescued.
The most effective way to promote a deal for the release of the abductees is the continuation of military pressure on the Hamas terrorist organization.
The only way they will be willing to negotiate for the release of all our abductees is if they feel personal danger. That is why we will continue the war - until we release the abductees and dismantle Hamas.
While the IDF is fighting on the battlefield, Israel is facing another front of incitement and antisemitism, directed against Jewish communities around the world as well as the State of Israel.
Many Jews, even in the United States, feel insecure. Many fear to identify themselves as Jews. We cannot accept this reality.
We need you to establish a new front comprised of Israeli society and government, together with Jewish communities in the world, especially in the USA, to act against the axis of evil led by Iran and radical Islam.
We must win this war as well. Public opinion has a great influence on the decisions of leaders and governments all over the world.
It must be obvious to all: our struggle is against antisemitism and against the campaign of incitement that harms the Jewish communities and the State of Israel.
If we do not win this war, it will endanger Jewish communities and may even affect Israel's ability to act in self-defense.
I would like to conclude by thanking you for your endless support throughout the years. I am sure that if we stay united, we will overcome all our shared challenges.
Together we will defeat all our enemies and secure the Jewish state and the Jewish people.”