JCPA Leadership Mission Meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
The 2007 JCPA Leadership Mission ended on a high note Sunday, October 14 as the delegation met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert less than an hour before the arrival in his office of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Discussion with the Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff Yoram Torbovich centered on the upcoming peace conference in Annapolis . The aim of the conference, it was explained to the JCPA leaders, is to reach agreement on the outlines of a two-state vision that would give the Palestinians a political horizon. But nothing will be implemented, it was stressed, unless and until the Palestinians fulfill the first phase of the Roadmap calling for dismantlement of the terrorist infrastructure. Israel , for its part, also will be prepared to carry out its obligations under the Roadmap, including removal of the 26 illegal outposts set up since 2001. Iran also figured prominently in the exchange, as JCPA Chair Lois Frank and Executive Director Steve Gutow underscored the agency's commitment to this issue. Mobilizing Jews and non-Jews to press the U.S. and international community for a robust response to the threat posed by Iran 's nuclear arms program has been and will remain a top priority, they said. In addition, Frank shared with the Prime Minister concerns expressed in regard to Israel's handling of the Darfur refugees arriving in Israel by way of the Sinai. Mr. Olmert observed that many of the people arriving illegally in Israel were not from Darfur and simply sought well paying jobs, and he pledged to make a statement on the subject to the Knesset this coming Wednesday. Earlier in the week, the delegation met with Darfuri activists in Israel at Tel Aviv University .
Among the other highlights of the trip were meetings with Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel, who discussed Israel's rapidly growing economy; with General Matan Vilnai, Deputy Defense Minister, who gave an in-depth briefing on the strategic challenges facing the Jewish State; and with Dan Meridor, former Justice and Finance Minister who explored a range of international and domestic concerns. In addition, the group visited Sderot and met with citizens experiencing the trauma of constant Kassam missile attacks; heard about the complexity of life for the Bedouin community in the Negev town of Lakia ; and explored environmental/ global warming issues at Sde Boker with alumni of the Arava Institute . A series of meetings were held at the Knesset with MKs Avishai Braverman (Labor), Shai Hermesh (Kadima) and Yuli Edelstein (Likud). The latter expressed his appreciation for the work done by the JCPA in organizing communities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Soviet Jewry movement. He also made a special point of noting the contribution made by JCPA staffer Abe Bayer Z"L to the cause of Soviet Jewry. Other sessions were held on a variety of topics including the future of the Jewish people, domestic Israeli politics, the Brand Israel initiative and developments in the Arab/ Muslim world.
