B'nai B'rith International Leads Delegates From United Nations, European Union On Missions To Israel

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This year, B'nai B'rith International facilitated back-to-back visits to Israel for diplomats from around the globe posted at key agencies of the United Nations, and several members of the European Parliament. B'nai B'rith often leads educational trips of this kind, and they can only be carried out with your support. This particular diplomatic delegation to Israel was made possible by the generous support of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

The trip's goal was to promote the Jewish state as an influential leader in education, technology, agriculture and medicine. It also allowed participants to immerse themselves in Israel’s culture by touring the Old City of Jerusalem and visiting Yad Vashem.

The missions included meetings with key officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the diplomats discussed European Union-Israel relations and the labeling of products made in the West Bank and Golan Heights.

Additionally, the visits were crucial in shining a light on the widespread inattention to a growing wave of terrorism targeting Israelis, and provided the diplomats with direct exposure to Israel’s extraordinary security challenges, diverse democracy and global humanitarianism.

Scroll down to immerse yourself in these important missions through expert analysis, official recaps, news coverage and photos. After viewing, please consider a donation to B'nai B'rith International on this Israel Independence Day, so that we can continue to educate and inform people on the Middle East's only democracy.

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Expert Analysis on the Visit

ICHRPP Deputy Director Eric Fusfield On U.N. And MEP Visits To Israel, The Harmful Effects Of Labeling West Bank Goods

“I employ about 40 Israelis and 50 to 60 Palestinians.  Everyone makes the same salary, as mandated by Israeli law.  We work together, eat lunch together, join with each other’s families and celebrate Jewish and Muslim holidays together.  This is where peace starts.”  He pleaded with the legislators, “Don’t boycott me – If you boycott me, you boycott the hope.”

RELATED: B’nai B’rith Highly Disconcerted With Approval Of Guidelines To Label Goods From West Bank

B’nai B’rith International is perturbed that the European Union approved and will soon publish guidelines that European countries can use to label Israeli products produced over the pre-1967 lines. The resolution introducing the guidelines was passed by the European Parliament in September 2015 and is an affirmation of the discriminatory goals of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

B'nai B'rith's Official Stance on the EU's Labeling of West Bank Goods

Press Releases and Quotes From B'nai B'rith Leaders on the mission

B’nai B’rith Brings Delegation Of Key United Nations Diplomats
​To Israel

“Nothing can dispel misunderstanding about Israel’s record as a dynamic, humane democracy in the face of adversity like actual exposure to the country, its leaders and people. B’nai B’rith is singularly positioned, as a U.N.-accredited global organization, and one with a presence in Israel dating back to 1888, to help bridge the gap between perceptions and reality,” B’nai B’rith International President Gary P. Saltzman said.

Read the full recap here

​B’nai B’rith Leads Members Of The European Parliament On A Mission ​To Israel

“B’nai B’rith is responsible for providing influential international leaders with information that demonstrates Israel’s vibrant democratic character,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “There is no better way to accomplish this than by bringing European officials to Israel, so they can experience the Jewish state’s culture and political environment firsthand, as well as its story of success as the ‘start-up nation.’ We will continue to do these missions in the future.”

Read the full recap here

coverage

JBS News Update – 2/23/16

JBS News Update covered the B'nai B'rith International trip to Israel with several members of European Parliament.

​In the news report, JBS quoted President Gary P. Saltzman on the importance of the visit, saying: “This mission provided an informative and vital experience that permitted members of the European Parliament to recognize that Israel is a dynamic and diverse country with a thriving economy.”

Swedish MEP Lars Adaktusson Reflects on his experience

Following the week-long visit, MEP Lars Adaktusson's shared his thoughts on the B'nai B'rith International study trip to Israel. 

Click here to read Lars Adaktusson's blog (Swedish)

Photos

Photos from the U.N. Mission

​Photos From The MEP Mission

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