Dozens of Jewish leaders, current and former prime ministers, legislators and diplomats from around the world are expected in Israel this week for the Second International Conference on Combating Antisemitism: Generation Truth, to be held Monday and Tuesday in Jerusalem. The event was initiated by Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry and is being held under a government decision led by Minister Amichai Chikli and supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27.
The conference program includes a state gala attended by the prime minister, a day of discussions with President Isaac Herzog, and a special session in the Knesset with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. These three central events are organized by the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Mnistry in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office Ceremonial and State Events Directorate.
Singing Hatikvah at a rally in Manchester after synagogue shooting attack
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Among the key guests expected are: Edi Rama, prime minister of Albania; Sebastian Kurz, former chancellor of Austria; Scott Morrison, former prime minister of Australia; Mariano Cúneo Libarona, Argentina’s minister of justice; János Bóka, Hungary’s minister for EU Affairs; Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazilian senator and presidential candidate; Mike Huckabee, U.S. ambassador to Israel; and researcher and author Gad Saad alongside leading intellectuals and senior representatives from Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Unlike last year, major Jewish organizations are not boycotting this year’s conference and will be sending delegations.
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Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli at site of Bondi Beach massacre
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In an interview with ynet ahead of the summit, Chikli addressed the recent surge in global antisemitism. “In the past year, antisemitism has crossed a red line, with dozens of people murdered around the world simply for being Jewish. It is time to stop focusing only on defense and move to offense against the enemies of the free world, starting with radical Islam," he said.
"Israel is committed and will continue to fight antisemitism without compromise, but it cannot do this alone," he added. "That is precisely the purpose of this conference — to host dozens of powerful leaders from around the world to form an international coalition of partners who see reality accurately and understand that antisemitism expresses a murderous ideology threatening the entire free world. Together, we will fight this threat — decisively, courageously, and unapologetically.”
Chikli referenced deadly attacks around the world where Jews were targeted over the past year.
“We just had an entirely different year, with a series of the most severe events: Boulder, Colorado; Manchester; Washington; Bondi Beach in Sydney. These are very violent and traumatic incidents," he pointed out. "The events in Australia reflect the focus of this conference. The guiding line of the summit is building a coalition against radical Islam. When we talk about lethal antisemitism, yes, there is growing antisemitism in the radical left and radical right in the U.S., but the most fatal antisemitism stems from a violent Islamist agenda — as seen in Australia. Four months before the Sydney bridge attack, hundreds of thousands chanted ‘Globalize the Intifada’ while waving ISIS, al‑Qaida, and PLO flags. Four months later, those slogans became a deadly attack in which 15 Jews were murdered.”
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US President Donald Trump is leading an agressive campaign against antisemitism
(Photo: Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
Chikli explained the reasoning behind some of the officials on the guest list. “Inviting the current prime minister of Australia isn’t relevant because he won’t say ‘radical Islam’ at all — so we invited former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. We are pleased with the strong turnout for the conference. There is very respectable representation from several parties in the European Parliament,” he said.
The conference will present an award to Leo Terrell, a civil rights attorney and chair of the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, for his fight against antisemitism. Chikli said this also expresses appreciation for the Trump administration’s more aggressive policies in combating antisemitism, including expelling students involved in pro‑Hamas demonstrations — a stance he contrasted with the Biden administration.
Chikli stressed that attendees from across the political spectrum responded positively to invitations. “This is not a U.N. conference; the purpose is to gather prominent political forces that identify radical Islam as a problem, including influential intellectual voices.”
What message will come out of this conference?
“The central mission in the fight against antisemitism is focusing on lethal antisemitism, focusing on radical Islam, and jointly combating extremist Islam,” Chikli said.
When asked if inviting predominantly right‑wing figures might merely “preach to the converted,” he responded: “We did not invite only right‑wing leaders. Scott Morrison and Sebastian Kurz represent the political center. These are center‑right and right‑of‑center voices — not extreme right. These are influential voices from the center and the right.”
Last year, Chikli faced heavy criticism for inviting Jordan Bardella, head of France’s National Rally (RN) party. In retrospect, he stands by the invitation.
“I am glad the Foreign Ministry, following his invitation, also lifted its boycott of his party,” Chikli said. “Imagine where we would be if we had accepted the call to boycott Bardella and RN — the leading party in French polls. It is a party that never stops criticizing Hamas and The Hague over its stance on Netanyahu and Israel — while Macron recognized a Palestinian state when hostages were still in the tunnels and the blood had not yet dried. They gave a prize to terror. Hamas even issued official messages of support and thanks to those leaders. Even if that wasn’t their intention, they gave enormous support to Hamas. That is why we are working to build a broad coalition — a counter‑coalition to those progressive organizations that succumb to the threat of radical Islam instead of fighting it.”
Shikli also defended his decision to invite British right‑wing activist Tommy Robinson to Israel.
“That visit was very significant and beneficial for Israel,” he said. "The amount of content Tommy generated — in the context of the war, the moral fight, and the battle against radical Islam — and what he said about Nova and the horror videos, and during his visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Jerusalem with calls to come and visit — all of that influenced the British public. That visit had great value for the State of Israel, and we would be happy to see him again in future opportunities.”
Last year, the Netherlands labeled Israel a security threat, partly in response to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs’ distribution of informational intelligence materials directly to politicians — an act some saw as disinformation. Chikli rejects this criticism.
“It is an information exposure operation. Following the attack on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans — an attack our security service identified ahead of time — and despite increased forces, there was no comprehensive preparation to prevent those events. We also published a detailed report exposing Hamas’ network in the Netherlands with all relevant actors in explicit detail. We revealed how Palestinian civil society organizations serve as cover for Hamas activity and fundraising conducted in mosques across the Netherlands. They did not like that this information was public. It alarmed and angered them — but we are very happy we did it, and we believe the Dutch public has the right to know,” according to the minister.
Why was 2025 the deadliest year despite the end of the war?
“It was a year marked by an explosive rise in antisemitism sparked by the events of October 7," Chikli explains. "For a day, the violent Palestinian fantasy of return manifested: mass murder, rape, looting and massacre. That unleashed immense enthusiasm among pro‑Palestinian circles. Sadly, some countries instead of acting against that wave of hatred — only inflamed it, led by Canada, Australia, the U.K. and France, which recognized a Palestinian state while hostages were still in the tunnels and the blood wasn’t dry. They rewarded terror and, not coincidentally, Hamas issued official messages of support and thanks for those leaders. Even if it wasn’t their intention, they gave massive support to Hamas. That is why we are working to build a broad coalition — a counter‑coalition to those progressive organizations that bow to the threat of radical Islam instead of fighting it.”