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JERUSALEM – The Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism (GFCA) will convene its international conference on Dec. 16-17, 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem, under the chairmanship of Avigdor Liberman, Israel’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and Yuli Edelstein, minister of public diplomacy and Diaspora affairs.
High representatives from around the world – including statesmen, MPs, diplomats, journalists, legal experts, NGO representatives and leading academic figures – are expected to attend, along with senior leaders of Jewish communities and organizations worldwide.
This year’s conference is the third GFCA conference. It provides an occasion to collaborate and exchange ideas to prepare constructive, productive and comprehensive strategies to combat global antisemitism. This year the conference will feature both panels and working groups, which deal with developing effective means and models to confront the various forms of antisemitism.
The conference will include five panel sessions and two 2-hour working group sessions over the two days, as well as opening and closing sessions and a special event at the Knesset hosted by the Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin.
The five panel sessions are:
• Dealing with old and new forms of antisemitism;
• Trends in the delegitimization of Israel in the international arena;
• Antisemitism in the Arab and Muslim world;
• The state of antisemitism around the world; and
• Historical revisionism, Holocaust denial and the ‘new’ antisemitism
The five working groups are:
• Nationalist trends in central and eastern Europe: New challenges facing Jewish communities;
• Rising antisemitism in Latin America: The Iranian influence;
• Antisemitism online: Cyberspace and the media;
• Delegitimization of Israel: Boycotts, divestment and sanctions; and
• Combating antisemitism: Models and best practices
Jason Kenney, minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, will be one of the keynote speakers and MP Irwin Cotler will be one of the honourees at the Knesset event. In addition to Kenney, those attending from Canada include: Anita Bromberg, B'nai Brith Canada’s national director, legal affairs; Frank Dimant, B’nai Brith Canada, CEO; Michael Mostyn, B'nai Brith Canada, national director of public affairs; Jon Allen, Canadian ambassador to Israel; Neama Benhabib, Jabotinsky International Centre; Avi Benlolo, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, President & CEO; MP Irwin Cotler; Susan Davis, Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, executive vice-president; David Dewitt, York University, professor and associate vice-president, research; Jamie Ellerton, Citizenship and Immigration, executive assistant to Kenney; Hershell Ezrin, CIJA, CEO; Mark Freiman, CJC president; Ruth Klein, B’nai Brith Canada, national director, League for Human Rights; Monica Kugelmass, Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism director; Howard Liebman, chief of staff, office of MP Irwin Cotler; David Matas, B’nai Brith Canada, senior honourary counsel; Elvira Mostyn, B’nai Brith Canada; Marc Nadeau, Knights of Columbus, Grand Knight; MP Scott Ried, deputy house leader; MP Mario Silva; Benjamin Shinewald, CJC, national executive director and general counsel; Moishe Smith, B'nai B'rith International, president; Julia Smith, Citizenship and Immigration Canada senior policy advisor, and Gil Troy, McGill University. |
