June 23, 2019
See what policymakers, thought leaders, and government officials from around the world had to say about AJC at the AJC Global Forum 2019 in Washington, D.C.
“I want to congratulate AJC for the work that you did, making a lot of connections that Israel needed when we didn’t have the kind of open channels that we have today… For example, AJC may well have been the pioneers in creating the ties with Azerbaijan.”
- H.E. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
"AJC has been a game changer, first of all, in Jewish life generally, but specifically in the fight against Antisemitism. The impact that the AJC has made cannot be overstated. The IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition wouldn’t have happened without the intervention of AJC leaders."
- Elan Carr, U.S. State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
"I’m neither optimistic nor pessimistic, I’m realistic, and that is why I like AJC. AJC internationally is our best partner for my organization, and the reason for that is AJC has always been the most honest organization that I’ve seen. Honest about how bad the problem is, but never overstating any example."
- John Mann, British Member of Parliament and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism
"After the end of the Shoah, which was a betrayal of all civilized values, and of the Second World War, AJC reestablished contact with Germany as early as 1949. This led to a close network of transatlantic reconciliation and friendship. We can now share in delight at the fact that Jewish life is flourishing once again in Germany. I would like to thank AJC for its tireless and extremely important work, which is very much in the spirit of its motto, ‘Defend our values. Define our world."
- H.E. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Antisemitism is a violation of human rights, and so we should bring to bear the commitments to human rights at the United Nations. We need to get the United Nations to be far more engaged in combating antisemitism. You’ve mentioned the important work of AJC on getting things on the agenda, I would also mention the work of [AJC’s] Jacob Blaustein Institute, which has done so much in strengthening the capacity of the UN in its response to human rights issues."
- Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency and Combat Antisemitism
"I send my congratulations regarding the commencement of AJC’s Global Forum. Building a close relationship with AJC is a priority of the Government of Japan. May the relationship between Japan and the Jewish community continue in its prosperity."
- H.E. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
"I really appreciate AJC’s commitment to advancing China-U.S. and China-Israel friendship and cooperation. It is my hope that AJC can continue to make positive efforts to ensure the sound growth of these relationships."
- H.E. Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China
"I am honored to stand here today, with my friends and colleagues, to launch the Black-Jewish Caucus. I will tell you that AJC has always held a special place in my heart. I took my first trip to Israel when I was a 25-year-old state legislator at the initiative of AJC [Project Interchange] and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life."
- U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
I’m proud of the fact that, yesterday, with AJC’s leadership, we are launching the Black-Jewish Caucus in the United States House of Representatives and I will be a proud founding member of that effort. We’re thankful for that. We’ve stood together, year after year, decade after decade, century into century. We will continue to stand together forever."
- U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Democratic Caucus Chair
"I commend AJC for spearheading the Community of Conscience initiative to create an interfaith dialogue aimed at disarming the hateful language and acts of violence toward houses of worship across the board… Whether it’s safety for the Jewish people, for Israel, for all of humanity, your entire mission, none of it can be accomplished without a strong AJC, but also a strong America."
- U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
"AJC has a long-standing presence in the Americas and close ties with local Jewish communities in Latin America. You are an essential partner of the OAS and you can count on our multilateral, political platform to fight hatred, to educate, to increase awareness, and to help member states adopt measures and cooperate to fight antisemitism and terrorism."
- H.E. Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States
"It’s almost exactly a year since I had the eye-opening experience of an AJC Project Interchange visit to Israel and the West Bank with a number of my fellow mayors. It was extraordinary to see first-hand the achievements of what’s taking place in Israel, as well as to see the geographic immediacy and the intimate boundaries of a territory that we hear so much about on the news here at home, but don’t often really take the trouble to go and understand."
- Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 2020 Presidential Candidate
"The decision of AJC on the Iran [nuclear] deal, not only was it an amazing decision; it resulted from three weeks of deep thinking and analyzing."
"I’m saying this not just because we are here, but [AJC’s] Project Interchange is exactly what a good project is. It brings together not just ambassadors, but also university presidents, it creates the people-to-people exchange that is so important for Israel, internally and externally."
- Ambassador Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (2011-2015)
