Bayit Yehudi establishes forum for English speakers
This new forum shows the importance Bayit Yehudi places on English speaking immigrants,” forum chairman Jeremy Saltan says.
By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMANNaftali Bennett(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Bayit Yehudi Party announced the formation of a new English-speaking forum this week in an effort to reach out to immigrants.The forum is to be tasked with increasing the activity of western immigrant issues in the party and drafting as many English speaking members and voters as possible.“Bayit Yehudi is the natural home for Zionist immigrants,” forum chairman Jeremy Saltan said on Tuesday. “We are the only party in the Knesset that opposes a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River and protects Jewish sovereignty in Jerusalem. This new forum shows the importance Bayit Yehudi places on English speaking immigrants.”The forum plans to be represented in various party institutions, including Knesset faction meetings on relevant issues and being a factor in forming all party positions regarding immigration and absorption issues. It is to be an address for English-speaking Bayit Yehudi supporters in the Diaspora.The body is to assist Bayit Yehudi MKs with English correspondence and to conduct quarterly meetings with MKs on a wide range of subjects with the purpose of forming position papers on key issues facing the community. The forum looks to advance the democratic values of accountability, transparency and representation in the party.Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett, who gave up his American citizenship when he entered the Knesset, gave his blessing to the forum. He is expected to speak in English at forum events.“This is our way to help integrate these quality immigrants who are here by choice into Israeli society by addressing issues that are important to them,” Bayit Yehudi director- general Nir Orbach said.
