Training for young advocates in Brussels

Young Jewish leaders from European countries have completed a four-day media strategies training course in Jewish and Israel advocacy, with the aim of persuading European politicians to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias.

Speakers at the Empowering Jewish Voices seminar in Brussels included
former Israeli ambassadors and European Commission executives, and trainees from Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Albania and Kosovo discussed issues such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

According to organisers, Emanuel Nachshon, the Israeli ambassador to Belgium, “spoke about the dangers of politicians ignoring Jewish interests and playing the Middle East card in order to get votes from the left and Muslim community”. These mirror past arguments made by Alex Benjamin, now of the European Jewish Alliance,  that Muslim refugees will skew politicians’ support away from Jews
and Israel.

The conference was arranged by Israeli non-governmental organisation Nevatim with the European Janusz Korczak Academy, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Genesis Philanthropy Group.