Benny Gantz: We have not done enough for the Jewish Diaspora

The conference, titled "The Diaspora Conference," focused on the concept of "the impact of the coronavirus on world Jewry."

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz attends the Knesset's Remembrance Day service, April 26, 2020 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz attends the Knesset's Remembrance Day service, April 26, 2020
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
“We have not done enough for the Jewish communities outside of Israel,” said Defense Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz in a conference organized by Makor Rishon.
The conference, titled “The Diaspora Conference,” focused on the concept of “the impact of the coronavirus on world Jewry.”
The conference covered virtual speeches given by the Blue and White leader, who in his remarks “criticizes Israel’s attitude toward Jewish communities overseas” and the rise in antisemitism present in the Diaspora, which is more evident amid the coronavirus crisis. Gantz highlighted claims from far-left and far-right extremists that Jews or Israel are somehow responsible for or benefiting from the pandemic.
“Jewish communities have to deal these days with a new opponent," Gantz said. "Their victims are in a higher proportion [relative to] their percentage in the general society. The virus caused the death of spiritual leaders and prevented gatherings, creating a new wave of hate-fueled blood libels. It made it clear to us that we might not have done enough!
“The alliance between Israel and world Jewry is something we must not neglect,” Gantz said, promising that he would “act to make our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora as partners for discourse, becoming neighbors at the Kotel [the Western Wall].”