Young volunteer diplomats to fight apartheid analogy

Group of Israelis, chosen by Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs to go on a speaking tour of the US, to visit Knesset.

By GIL STERN STERN SHEFLER
A group of young Israelis, chosen by the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs to go on a speaking tour of the US, will visit the Knesset on Monday.
The delegation, which includes an Arab IDF officer, Israelis of Ethiopian descent and former MTV video jockey Becky Griffin, will meet lawmakers before they embark on their trip next month.
Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein initiated the idea, aimed at countering analogies between Israel and Apartheid South Africa, illustrating the multicultural and tolerant aspects of Israeli society.
“We believe that this is the right answer to the campaign of delegitimization that is taking place against Israel around the world,” Edelstein said. “The ministry’s preemptive activity will acquaint local students with their Israeli peers, face to face, to bring about genuine familiarity with Israeli society.”