The Right idea, the Wrong execution: Chikli’s antisemitism conference controversy
Israel's antisemitism conference, led by Amichai Chikli, was overshadowed by controversy over its speaker list, missing a chance for inclusive dialogue
International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli’s International Conference on Combating Antisemitism this past Thursday should have been an event to celebrate Israel’s government making a stand against antisemitism
It should have been an opportunity for people from all over the world to come together in Israel and discuss how best to combat antisemitism since October 7
And October 7 is a crucial point. The Hamas terror attacks changed everything, not just in Israel but for Jews worldwide
In the three months post-October 7 US antisemitic incidents skyrocketed to a total of 3,291 between October 7 and January 7 according to the Anti-Defamation League, representing a whopping 361% increase from the same period the year prior
However the conference ended up a farce – beginning weeks prior to its doors even opening Anti-Israel forces spread lies about the right-wing European politicians who attended the conference, Chikli said in a speech at the Thursday convention
Chikli thanked the politicians who had attended the conference, which had bled high-profile participants since the announcement of the attendance list
