The two candidates vying for the presidency of the European Jewish Congress (EJC) have presented their election platforms to Ynetnews, one day before the organization's members go to the polls.
Pierre Besnaninou, fighting to maintain his presidency of the EJC, is a Tunisian-born French citizen. He made his fortune after becoming involved in the Asian import business.
In the past six years, he has dedicated his time to Jewish life, and formed an association to help poor French Jews move to Israel. In 2005, he was voted president of the EJC.
Besnaninou told Ynetnews on Monday that if reelected, he would "continue to do what I've been trying to do in the past two years; create a bridge between Europe and Israel."
He said "networking" and "producing information" for EU parliamentarians was key to fighting against "the delegitimization of Israel ,"and vowed to combat the growing anti-Zionist rhetoric in western Europe, as manifested in the call for a UK academic boycott of Israel.
"The EJC as a political body is very strong," he maintained, adding that it worked to defend Israel "every day."
At the same time, Besninou added, encouraging immigration to Israel in light of the increasingly Judeophobic atmosphere in western Europe was not the EJC's mandate.
"Aliyah is not an emergency exit," he said, adding: "It's a personal choice. For us, what is important is to give those who decide to do it the ability to move to Israel. To encourage aliyah is the job of the Jewish Agency or the Israeli government. Jews in Europe are not refugees."
Addressing the threat posed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Besnaninou said he would work to ensure the Iranian president would be persona non grata in the European Union.
"We are already working on bringing Ahmadinejad to trial at the international Hague court for inciting to genocide," Besnainou said. "We will also try to push for the EU to pass very strong sanctions against Iran," he added.
'We need more than lobbying'
Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, President of the Russian Jewish Congress, has also placed Iran high up on his agenda, and recently organized a conference in Luxembourg aimed at preventing "nuclear catastrophe."
"The conference in Luxembourg is a good example of what can and should be done," he told Ynetnews. "The event had a broad appeal and important scientific merit. This type of world-class, focused event is important in looking to solve the world's challenges," Kantor added.
Kantor is a former Russian rocket engineer, and a career in agricultural chemicals turned him into a billionaire. He has been heavily involved in Jewish Russian life, and has donated large funds to numerous causes aimed at preserving the memory of the Holocaust.
In the run up to the elections, Kantor has been accused by his opponent of being tainted by virtue of his close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to Ynetnews, Kantor said the EJC was not living up to its full potential.
"Today, the EJC has influence, but not nearly enough as it could have potentially. I will work closely with a broad group of vice-presidents to make the EJC one of the most dominant organizations in the Jewish world," Kantor said.
"In my team approach, we will be able to deal with all major issues confronting the EJC; on this you have not only my vision and commitment, but also my word," he said, adding: " I believe passionately in the future of European Jewry."
"Lobbying is a current tactic being employed by the EJC and, while extremely important, it should be part of a wider program of activities that include proactive events and projects, similar to the ones that I have organized over the past few years," Kantor said.
He added that his candidacy also brings with it the views of the Jewish community in Russia and eastern Europe, which, Kantor emphasized, should not be placed beneath those of western European Jewish communities.
"In terms of effective representation, I believe that Russia, Eastern and Central Europe are no less important than Western Europe. Living in Moscow, Geneva and Herzliya, I firmly believe that the EJC needs to create a feeling of 'family' between all of the communities," he said.
Kantor added that anti-Semitism in western and eastern Europe differed. "That is why we cannot find a universal medicine to fight anti-Semitism, and precisely why we need to create committees who understand the diverse nature of anti-Semitism across Europe," he said.
Israel would play a central role in the EJC's agenda, Kantor added. "Make no mistake, one of our very most important labors of love is to support Israel in every way possible. I myself am a citizen of Israel and proudly maintain a home in Herzliya. Aliyah is vital to the life blood of the Jewish State. I am privileged to call many top leaders in the Jewish state my friends."
"Yet the cultural renaissance of our communities throughout Europe is an amazing miracle to watch and take part in. Israel must support our community. Our community must strengthen Israel. We are like two brothers, each loving and doing everything possible for the other, each one from a position of his own strength," he added