Interview: Amb. Ron Lauder in Israel

Deputy FM Ayalon addresses World Jewish Congress; "Enough excuses. Abu Mazen knows our address - he could be here in ten minutes."

Communicated by the Deputy FM's Bureau

Today at a meeting of the World Jewish Congress commemorating its 75th  anniversary, Deputy FM Danny Aaylon responded to Abu-Mazen's comment this morning about returning to negotiations: "Enough stalling, enough excuses. Abu-Mazen knows our phone number and our address. He could be here in 10 minutes. We have been waiting for him for two years. Unfortunately we are left staring at an empty chair."

The deputy foreign minister added that the Palestinian plan to unilaterally push for recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly is the same old strategy using different tactics. “The Palestinians have adapted their tactics to suit the circumstances, but their goal remains the same – to continue the struggle against Israel.”

Ayalon also talked about Jerusalem: "Just as Jerusalem guarded us for the two thousand years of the Diaspora, so must we guard it in return – for two thousand years and beyond. Only Israeli sovereignty can ensure that Jerusalem remain united but shared by all peoples.”

Ayalon referred to the Jewish community in the Diaspora as “our first line of defense against our enemies and their efforts to delegitimize Israel."

Ayalon thanked Ron Lauder, the president of the WJC, for his hard work on behalf of the Jewish people. He called him "a true friend of Israel".

In audience with Pope Benedict, World Jewish Congress leadership denounces growing deligitimization of Israel;World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald S.Lauder asked Pope Benedict XVI to speak out against the growing delegitimization of Israel, during a private audience at the Vatican on Friday

He especially mentioned the denial of Jewish holy sites such as the Temple Mount and the Western Wall as well as the Tomb of Rachel the matriarch in Bethlehem, which is holy to Jews and also to Christians.

"We discussed critical issues affecting world Jewry," said Lauder. “We expressed to the Pope how much we value the close relationship we have enjoyed with the Vatican over many years in our quest for a secure Israel and a safer future for Jews everywhere.”

Lauder was accompanied by WJC Secretary General Designate Dan Diker and Deputy Secretary General Maram Stern,

raised his concern at the growing political assault on Israel's legitimacy.

According to a WJC statement, Pope Benedict emphasized the need to continue to combat anti-Semitism in the Christian world, which he characterized as “unacceptable.”

He expressed the importance of Jews and Catholics working together to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms, noting again the patrimony of Judaism to Christianity.

He reportedly said that the “bonds of brotherhood and goodwill between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people should continue to be strengthened.”

Diker voiced the deep concern of Jews everywhere, and especially in Israel, about the political assault on Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people and asked that the Church take a lead role in combating what he called a new "politically correct" form of anti-Semitism.

“The ongoing assault against the State of Israel has triggered dangerous aftershocks in Jewish communities around the world” said Diker.

According to the WJC, the pontiff “responded that the Church recognizes the deep and historical connection of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, the Holy Land, going back to the time of Abraham. He also expressed his commitment to help foster understanding of the bond between the nation of Israel and the land of Israel among people throughout the world.