By TAMARA ZIEVEUpdated: MARCH 8, 2017 00:16Richard D. Heideman(photo credit: Courtesy)
The American Zionist Movement elected international lawyer Richard D. Heideman as its president on Monday, at the organization’s Biennial Assembly in New York.The New York-based AZM is the umbrella organization of some 20 Zionist groups in the US and serves as the American affiliate of the World Zionist Organization.Heideman is one of the foremost legal experts on fighting the BDS movement and pursuing legal actions on behalf of victims of terrorism in courts around the world. He also serves as the chairman of the Israel Forever Foundation and as honorary president of B’nai B’rith International.Heideman began his tenure at AZM with an agenda to improve attitudes toward Israel and Zionism in North America.“‘Zionism Forward’ is my vision as AZM president,” he said in his inaugural speech. “It is not about redefining Zionism; it is about reenergizing Zionism.”