07 September 2011
Ahead of the critical vote at the United Nations later this month which looks set to have serious repercussions for Israel and the wider Jewish community, the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP) – a partner organization of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) – is holding a series of meetings in New York City and Washington DC this week. Top on the agenda will be the Palestinians’ effort to win the endorsement of the UN General Assembly for a unilaterally declared Palestinian state. Other issues to be discussed will include security requirements for a viable Middle East peace and the efforts by Iran to gain nuclear weapons.

The ICJP is chaired by Fiamma Nirenstein MP, Italy, and its leadership also comprises the following: Rep. Gary Ackerman, House of Representatives, United Staes; Mark Adler MP, House of Commons, Canada; Irwin Cotler MP, House of Commons, Canada; Michael Danby MP, House of Representatives, Australia; Luis Fishman Zonzinski, Legislative Assembly, Costa Rica; János Fónagy MP, National Assembly, Hungary; MK Shai Hermesh, The Knesset, Israel; Lord Greville Janner, House of Lords, United Kingdom; Floriano Pesaro, São Paulo Municipal Council, Brazil; and Viviane Teitelbaum, Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium.

On Wednesday, the ICJP delegation was hosted by World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder and Secretary General Dan Diker. It met with a number of UN ambassadors, notably of European countries. After their deliberations in New York, the Jewish lawmakers will travel to Washington DC for a briefing with Israel’s ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, on the current situation in the Middle East, and for meetings with Congressional leaders and colleagues who deal with foreign affairs.

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