Netanyahu, Livni, Ayalon also set to address Jerusalem conference; Governing Board to elect new secretary-general of the WJC.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Leaders from Jewish communities around the world met in Jerusalem on Monday for ongoing sessions of the annual meeting of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), after the event kicked off Sunday night.Among other notable speakers, heads of regional affiliates of the WJC were set to speak in a special session on "Regions and Communities." WJC affiliates in Israel, the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America were scheduled to speak.Earlier Monday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke at a WJC session on "The Arab Revolutions," saying he hoped to see successful democratic change take root in the region. He also said he expected vote on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in September is “important but not so important."While eyes have turned towards the possibility that a Palestinian state may be recognized at the UN, Lieberman warned that Iran has continued to advance its nuclear program defying the international community.Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, opposition leader Tzipi Livni and Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon will also address the conference.The Governing Board of the WJC confirmed the appointment of Dan Diker as the Secretary General of the organization, a press release from the organization said Monday.Diker will succeed Michael Schneider who had served the past four years.UN Ambassador Ronald Lauder, the president of the WJC, said: “Perhaps more than ever before, the international community is witnessing a variety of pivotal changes which will impact very heavily on the global Jewish community."