IAC National Summit Preaches Unity Amidst ‘Polarizing’ Times

The Israeli American Council (IAC) held their 2023 National Summit at the Fairmont Hotel in Austin, TX from January 19-21, at a time when Israel’s latest government coalition is pursuing a controversial agenda and a time when antisemitism seems to be at a fever pitch. There was even a pro-Palestinian protest in front of the summit on January 21. Through it all, the IAC kept to their theme of celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary with a message of love and unity.

Israel’s new ruling coalition is considering some controversial measures: possible changes to the Law of Return and judicial reform. The controversies were discussed at IAC, but most speakers tended to stress the need for Israelis and the Jewish community to remain united regardless of the measures.

During the conference’s opening plenary, IAC CEO Shoham Nicolet said that “Israel is still searching for a golden path” as a democracy.

During the conference’s opening plenary, IAC CEO Shoham Nicolet said that “Israel is still searching for a golden path” as a democracy. Nicolet said that even when the “temperature of these battles rise” in a democracy, it’s important for the Jewish and Israeli-American communities to “respect, trust, support, [and] love with no conditions Israel, its people and its democracy.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog also addressed the conference via video, stating that the “unbreakable bond” between the United States and Israel “goes beyond particular parties or particular moments.” Herzog acknowledged that after the most recent election in Israel, “questions were raised by many of our friends around the world and in the United States” regarding whether Israel will still continue to stand for “democracy, liberty and equality.” Herzog declared that Israel’s “democracy is strong,” saying that the differing voices among the branches of Israeli government simply reflect “the greatness of our democracy.” Herzog added that the “rule of law” and “freedom of speech” are “pillars of our Jewish and democratic state.”

“Israel will never compromise on its defining principles. We rely on all of you to be bridges of dialogue and ambassadors of goodwill.”
– Israeli President Isaac Herzog

“Israel will never compromise on its defining principles,” Herzog proclaimed, telling conference attendees: “We rely on all of you to be bridges of dialogue and ambassadors of goodwill.”

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Social Equality Amichai Chikli also spoke during the main plenary and was asked about the concerns from American Jewish leaders about the current Netanyahu government. “We were very honest with our agenda and it is our responsibility to follow this agenda,” Chikili replied. However, he did say that the government is listening to Jewish leaders and cares about their concerns regarding the current government. As for questions about changing the “grandfather clause” of the Law of Return that allows for anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent to immigrate to Israel provided that they don’t practice another religion, Chikli said: “Israel will always remain safe haven for Jews everywhere on Earth,” he replied, adding that the government is taking steps for “to help the Jewish community to help themselves.”

During the conference’s closing plenary on January 21, Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman of the Executive Doron Almog said that the “greatest challenge of our time is to keep us united” amidst “polarizing times.”

A significant amount of attention at the conference was given to the topic of rising antisemitism. Israeli Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization of Israel Noa Tishby spoke during the opening plenary, saying that the recent tirades from rapper Kanye West resulted in his social media following doubling showed that antisemitism is an “addiction” that the world hasn’t been able to get rid of yet. While she acknowledged that criticism of Israel isn’t inherently antisemitic, Tishby argued that anti-Israel activists don’t care about Israeli government policy, as to them, Israel’s very existence is illegitimate. She also pointed out that the “diverse” nature of Israel’s prior coalition government should have been a boon for pro-Israel activists, yet nothing really changed in the pro-Israel activism sphere. 

During the closing plenary, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) told attendees via video that she co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution recognizing the cultural impact Israeli Americans have had on the country and urged the Biden administration in a bipartisan letter to strengthen interagency coordination in fighting antisemitism, which the administration ultimately did. “I will continue to work across the aisle to fight antisemitism,” she said.

The keynote address at the conference was delivered by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, where he discussed what he sees as similarities between Texas and Israel. He argued that the rule of law in the United States — and Texas — is rooted from the Ten Commandments, which is why it’s displayed on their capitol. He recalled an atheist suing the state of Texas of displaying the Ten Commandments on the capitol ground while Abbott served as the state’s attorney general. “I said, ‘Not on my watch will I allow the Ten Commandments to be down,’” Abbott said. He proceeded to argue before the Supreme Court that it was constitutional to have the Ten Commandments displayed — and won.

Abbott later turned his attention to the Iran nuclear deal, which the Biden administration has been attempting to revive, proclaiming that the U.S. should not enter into alliances with countries that chant “Death to America!” and threaten Israel’s existence. “So long as Iran is a threat to Israel Iran is a threat to Texas,” he declared, adding that the Texas state government is banned from doing business with entities that conduct business with Iran.

He also touted the state’s law against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, citing the fact that the state government was barred from doing business with Airbnb after the company delisted homes in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. 

Another similarity between Texas and Israel that Abbott sees: entrepreneurship. Abbott hailed Tel Aviv’s “dynamic ecosystem” before touting his state’s economic record. “Our economy quite literally is America’s undisputed economic leader,” he said, claiming that Texas is the country’s leader in fuel and cotton, among other products and that Texas has repeatedly led the country in exports and job growth as a $2 trillion economy.

Abbott recounted the hostage crisis at a synagogue in Colleyville, TX in 2022, lauding the “swift action by law enforcement” to save the hostages but acknowledged that the threat of antisemitism remains. Ergo, Abbott provided $10 million in security grants for houses of worship throughout the state.

“We have extraordinarily bright futures,” Abbott said of Texas and Israel, even though both face challenges on “preserving freedom” and securing their respective populaces from antisemitism. “We are accustomed to challenges and overcoming them,” he said.