​A B’nai B’rith International delegation, led by B’nai B’rith President Gary P. Saltzman and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, met with dozens of world leaders during the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York throughout this week. Our delegation included B’nai B’rith volunteers and staff, as well as students and staff from the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (AEPi), a B’nai B’rith partner.

During these meetings, the delegation discussed Iranian support for terrorism, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the rise in global anti-Semitism. Among the dozens of scheduled meetings were discussions with: President of Argentina Mauricio Macri; President of Poland Andrzej Duda; President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Foreign Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault.

“Addressing issues at the United Nations is an important part of our global advocacy on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people. Our meetings with these presidents, foreign ministers, diplomats and ambassadors give us the platform to create an open dialogue that raises awareness of the plight Jews have to face around the world,” B’nai B’rith International President Gary P. Saltzman said.

On Sept. 22, during his general debate speech Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said, “Israel’s racial discrimination against the Palestinian people has become a daily reality.” 

“Abbas’ rhetoric is deplorable, Palestinians continue to use the United Nations and its agencies to delegitimize Israel at every turn, especially at agencies like UNESCO, the Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “Our efforts at the U.N. this week focused to a large extent on the double standard Israel faces at the world body.”

A number of these meetings, coordinated by B’nai B’rith, also included the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Anti-Defamation League, the World Jewish Congress and NCSEJ.

B’nai B’rith has been present at the United Nations since its founding. Engaging with world leaders and the United Nations machine is imperative to changing the anti-Israel animus that has become pervasive across the world body.

The B’nai B’rith delegation includes Peter Perlman, chairman of the executive; Sheila Mostyn senior vice president; Stephen Stern, member of the Executive Board of Directors; Michael Nachman, International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy board member; Larry Magid, International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy board member; Millie Magid, International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy board member; and Andy Borans, Board of Governors member and executive director of B’nai B’rith’s partner, the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (AEPi). In addition, student participants from AEPi include: Charlie Cohen, Bradley University; Ari Goldstein, Georgetown University; Noah Mikell, University of Minnesota; Ryan Baill, Georgia State University; Josh Friedland, University of Washington; and AEPi staff members David Marias and Jason Selby. B’nai B’rith International Director of U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs David Michaels and Program Officer for U.N. Affairs Oren Drori are coordinating the meetings.