(Washington, D.C., March 8, 2022)–B’nai B’rith brought its latest delegation of international ambassadors and other senior diplomats to Israel.

Over the course of nearly a week, the diplomats—from diverse regions of the world—met Israeli policymakers, toured sites of historical significance, learned about critical regional threats and opportunities, and encountered the vibrant democracy, technological innovation and demographic diversity of the Jewish state.

The visitors, who currently serve as deputy permanent representatives at the United Nations, received briefings from officials at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Israel Defense Forces and members of the Knesset, including Yossi Shain, Ibtisam Mara’ana and Yuval Steinitz. They toured holy places in Jerusalem as well as Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust memorial and museum.

On Mt. Herzl, they witnessed the human toll of the struggle for Israel’s preservation and peace at the memorial to fallen Israeli service members and, on the 100th birthday of Yitzhak Rabin, at the gravesite of the assassinated prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The delegation was presented by Palestinian Media Watch Director Itamar Marcus with evidence of endemic incitement to violence against Israelis and met with those affected by anti-Israel terrorism, including Benjamin Horgan, whose wife was murdered while jogging near their home. The diplomats gathered with Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi near the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and inspected a cross-border attack tunnel dug by Lebanese-based Hezbollah.

The diplomats, who were greeted by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz and by Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata, also visited places of Christian pilgrimage on the Sea of Galilee and the international headquarters of the Baha’i faith, a UNESCO world heritage site in Haifa. Members of the religious minority continue to face systemic persecution in Iran.

As Israel offered to assist peacemaking in Ukraine—mindful of sizable Jewish communities in, large groups of Israeli citizens from and important ties with both that country and Russia—the diplomats heard from Daniel Rakov, a Ukrainian-born expert on Russian policy in the Middle East, on the acute complexities involved in this undertaking.

The delegation’s intensive program in Israel was organized by the B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem and the B’nai B’rith Office of United Nations Affairs in New York, with support from the Genesis Prize Foundation, Robert Kraft, Concert—Together for Israel and Matan—United Way Israel.

Over recent years, B’nai B’rith has brought dozens of ambassadors and other diplomats—from United Nations Headquarters, UNESCO and the U.N. Human Rights Council—to Israel.

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.