Latest news with #DanIllouz
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dozens of MKs across the aisle sign letter of support for Jewish diaspora communities
The letter, signed by 67 Members of Knesset from both sides of the aisle, expressed "unshakable solidarity" with the diaspora community. Some 67 Members of Knesset from the coalition and opposition signed a letter initiated by Likud MK Dan Illouz on Thursday expressing solidarity with the Jewish diaspora, in the wake of the 'deeply troubling' peak of antisemitic incidents worldwide. The letter, which was made out to 'our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora— With love, with pain, and with unshakable solidarity,' included signatories from all of the Knesset's Jewish parties, including the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) parties in the coalition and four opposition parties. 'On the 23rd of Iyar, 5785 (May 21, 2025), two people—Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lishinsky—were murdered in a shooting outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, simply because the killer wanted to murder Jews,' the letter began. 'This was not an attack on soldiers. It wasn't a protest against policy. It was a vile act of antisemitism—pure and simple. And tragically, this wasn't an isolated incident. It's part of a deeply troubling global trend: Since October 7, antisemitism has been spreading at an alarming pace—on campuses, in the streets, across social media, and throughout the public sphere,' the MKs continued. 'Yet in the darkness, your light has shone brightly. You stood with us during our hardest moments. You marched, you gave, you fought for the truth. You reminded us that Am Yisrael is one people—united. For that—we thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your determination. Thank you for your love. Because of you, we were not alone. And now—you won't be alone either,' the MKs continued. They continued, 'We, Ministers and Members of Knesset from across the political spectrum, speak to you with one clear voice: We are with you. We see you. We hear you. We feel your pain. And we will not be silent. The bond between the Jewish Diaspora and the State of Israel does not depend on circumstance. It is eternal. We are one family—bound by destiny, rooted in history, and entrusted with the mission of building a future of strength and dignity—together. From Jerusalem to Washington, from Tel Aviv to Toronto—we stand as one. And we say, with pride and with love: Am Yisrael Chai,' the MKs concluded. Illouz, who is originally from Montreal, said to the Post, 'When Jews are targeted simply for being Jewish, our response must be united and unequivocal. This was not just a crime—it was part of a global wave of hate that demands moral clarity. We want every Jewish community to know: you are not alone. Israel sees you, stands with you, and will always fight antisemitism wherever it appears. Am Yisrael is one family—and we stand together.' According to a report by the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency for Israel that was published in January, in 2024 antisemitic incidents in the US rose by 288% compared to 2022, and in Canada by 562%
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'I prefer to live in Jerusalem than Washington,' Huckabee says at Knesset event honoring the city
Huckabee spoke of his love for the city, saying, "I tell people all the time, I prefer to live in Jerusalem rather than Washington every day of the year." US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Wednesday spoke at an event at the Knesset that recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, initiated by Likud MK Dan Illouz. Huckabee stated, "I pray that every country will move its activities to Jerusalem—not for symbolic reasons, but for the fundamental reason that for 3,000 years, it has been the undisputed and undivided eternal capital of the Jewish state." Huckabee spoke of his love for the city. "I tell people all the time, I prefer to live in Jerusalem rather than Washington every day of the year. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the undivided capital of the Jewish state.' The event took place following the Jerusalem Day events this week. It included the participation of other ambassadors to Israel, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, MK Dan Illouz, Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Tradition Minister Meir Porush, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, and other MKs. During the event, certificates were awarded to ambassadors and diplomats as tokens of gratitude for their support of Israel and recognition of its sovereignty in Israel. Among the honorees was Huckabee. MK Dan Illouz, who initiated the event, said, 'In a world full of historical distortions and political lies, the countries that recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital choose the truth. "They declare: The Jewish people have a basic right to live in sovereignty in the land of their ancestors, and Jerusalem is the heart of that right. The event in the Knesset is a gesture of thanks, and above all a clear moral statement to the world.' The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs commented on the event, stating, 'The event expresses our commitment to promoting Jerusalem as Israel's capital also on the international level." "It is an opportunity to honor the countries that courageously stood alongside Israel and to strengthen political and economic ties with them," they said in a statement.
