As the 66th session of the United General Assembly kicked off this week, dignitaries and nongovernmental organizations from all over the world convened at the world body’s headquarters in New York City.
On the sidelines of the General Assembly, B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs, Chairman of the Executive Committee Gary Saltzman and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin have been meeting with dozens of presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and other international leaders. Among the countries whose senior government leaders B’nai B’rith met with were Italy, Greece, Uruguay, Spain, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Croatia and Argentina.
These meetings focused on such foremost concerns as the Palestinian resolution for statehood, the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Durban conference, the Arab spring and the Iranian nuclear program—on behalf of a coalition of leading international and American Jewish organizations.
The B’nai B’rith delegation to these high-level meetings also includes Honorary President Richard D. Heideman, who led B’nai B’rith’s Durban efforts; and B’nai B’rith leaders Stephen Stern, Michael Nachman, Gwen Zuares, Dan Tartakovski and B’nai B’rith Director of Latin American Affairs Eduardo Kohn. The meetings will continue into early next week.
B’nai B’rith played a central role in coordinating the diplomatic marathon. David Michaels, director of B’nai B’rith’s Office of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs, as well as Program Office Oren Drori, organized the B’nai B’rith meetings.