Keren Hayesod young leaders gather in Israel

Young Jewish leaders affiliated with Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal from around the world are gathering in Israel this week for the organization's 2014 Forum. Organized around the tagline “building the next generation of international Jewish leadership,” the assembly brought up-and-coming Jews from the United States, Europe and Asia together to network and meet with Israeli leaders. The participants met with leading political and economic figures, including, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. Venture capitalist Jon Medved and start-up guru Yossi Vardi, considered the father of Israeli hi-tech, both addressed the group, touting the country's economic successes. Vardi moderated a panel of “Israel's most creative minds” at a hi-tech showcase in Tel Aviv Monday morning at which Bennett spoke. According to Keren Hayesod, the purpose of the visit is to cultivate leaders for its operations worldwide and to allow those interested in helping the organization raise money for Israel to network. Speaking to the participants on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the importance of raising money for Israel, of working to explain Israel's positions to outsiders and of immigration. The Prime Minister rebuffed those who pin the failure of peace talks on settlement construction, telling forum participants that the Arab-Israeli conflict existed long before Israel's capture of Judea, Samaria and Gaza in 1967. KH-UIA is one of Israel's central fund-raising organizations, running campaigns in over 45 countries.

Keren Hayesod young leaders gather in Israel

Participants meet with leading political and economic figures, including, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.

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Keren Hayesod young leaders gather in Israel

Participants meet with leading political and economic figures, including, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.

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