Prime Minister Sharon Praises AJC

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 20 March 2002

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon praised the American Jewish Committee for its tireless efforts on behalf of Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

"We see the impact of your organization becoming greater and greater," Prime Minister Sharon told a high-level AJC delegation who capped ended their four day visit to Israel with a 90-minute meeting in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem Tuesday evening.

The annual AJC Executive Committee visit to Israel was particularly significant this year, given the war with the Palestinians, and AJC was thanked by each of the senior Israeli political figures they met.

The AJC delegation, led by AJC President Harold Tanner, met with Foreign Minster Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior, and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among others. The war launched by the Palestinians against Israel, the continuing search for peace, and the disturbing rise of anti-Semitism in Europe were among the topics discussed.

Mr. Tanner and AJC Executive Director David A. Harris announced a $100,000 contribution to aid Israeli victims of terror. Further details will be released in the coming days. The AJC delegation laid a wreath at the monument outside the Dolphinarium, the Tel Aviv discotheque where 21 Israeli high school students were murdered in a Palestinian suicide bomb attack last June.

The AJC leaders also announced plans for a large AJC mission, called "Operation Undaunted," in late May, that will involve AJC members from across the country.

The AJC delegation also is visiting Turkey, France, Spain and Belgium for discussions with top government officials as well as Jewish community leaders.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org