May 7, 2017-New York, NY: Over 1,000 supporters and advocates of Israel came together to listen to Israeli government ministers, U.S. government officials, and Jewish leaders at the 6th annual Jerusalem Post Conference at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
The day-long event featured speeches focusing on the strategic importance of U.S.-Israeli relations, the continuing threat posed by Iran and its destabilizing proxies on Israel's borders with Syria and Lebanon, and the fight against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement throughout the world and on U.S. college campuses.
Rousing speeches were given by notable dignitaries such as Israeli Minister of Transportation and Intelligence Israel Katz; Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources Dr. Yuval Steinitz; Jewish National Fund (JNF USA) Chairman of the Board Ronald S. Lauder; World Chairman of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) Daniel Atar; and many more.
"American Jewry is the solid foundation which allows us to continue leading the Zionist vision in the 21st century," said Atar in his speech from Jerusalem to the audience in New York. "KKL-JNF is also standing on the front lines in the fight against the de-legitimization campaign that is led by the BDS movement."
In his speech to the forum, Lauder, who is also President of the World Jewish Congress, unambiguously denounced anti-Israel activism as anti-Semitism. "Something new is occurring in the world today, and that is anti-Semitism that is hiding itself as anti-Israelism," Lauder said. "They will say that they're not anti-Semitic; that they are only anti-Israel. But being anti-Israel is being anti-Semitic, plain and simple."
KKL-JNF and JNF USA ran a booth at the Jerusalem Post conference, which displayed information and brochures on their activities in Israel, and distributed a 21st century version of the iconic Blue Box.
At the conference, KKL-JNF and JNF USA screened two short films on their activities in Israel in the fields of water, afforestation, agriculture and community development, which were received with a storm of applause from the audience.
The influential Jerusalem Post Conference, now in its sixth year, is jointly sponsored by KKL-JNF, JNF USA and other Jewish organizations in Israel and the United States.