JAFI Chairman Zeev Bielski. Extended invitation
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. invited?
Photo: Reuters
Head of the Jewish Agency said Tuesday he would be happy to have Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as his guest at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in
Jerusalem.
35th World Zionist Congress
About 2,000 delegates representing Jewish communities in 33 countries attend opening ceremony. President: Palestinian government refuses to recognize Israel, isn't respecting signed agreements
Zeev Bielski, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the World Zionist Organization, made the statement during his speech before the 2000 representatives of Jewish communities around the world attending the 35th World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem.
However, Bielski called on world leaders to avoid meeting with Iran’s president.
“I’d be happy to have Ahmadinejad as my guest at Yad Vashem and show him what our people had endured. I’m convinced that had he (Ahmadinejad) arrived at the World Cup games, he would have received a red carpet welcome," he stated.
"This anti-Semite who’s obsessed with Holocaust denial must be rejected. Each and every one of the delegates present here today must advocate against having this man regarded as a wanted guest,” Bielski said.
Bielski also spoke about the challenges facing the World Zionist movement: “70-80 percent of North American Jews have never been to Israel; therefore our goal should be bringing them here. We must market Israel to the Jewish Communities’ younger generations, so it is perceived as an attractive place, not only a haven.”