Amichai Chikli

You may see headlines of impending doom and gloom, but the real Jerusalem streets have not been this busy in a long time.

Things are so busy that I had to select multiple times where to go and what to do.

Sharing a very brief wrap-up with only some highlights, favorite faces, and photos.

Monday morning – Knesset

The Knesset on Monday morning was full of activity.

The red carpet and flags were to welcome the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama.

At the entrance security, I met Alan Clemmons and Natasha Hausdorff, two advocates who support Israel in legal matters.

They were also on the way to the Official Parliamentary Opening Plenary led by MK Amichai Chikli and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

The 2026 International Conference on Combating Antisemitism- Official Parliamentary opening Plenary was the forum for international delegates to speak.

One dramatic presentation was by Christian Terhes, Member of the European Parliament, when he showed the glorification of martyrdom in the UNRWA text.

The man Chikli was pleased to shake hands with when he entered the room was Flavio Bolsonaro. His name card read: Senator, Pre-candidate for the Presidency, Brazil. He did not speak at this session. But at the main event, he was given the keynote position and launched his campaign. Let’s hope he wins.

The opening conference gala entrance was on Monday night, at the same time as the Jabotinsky lecture at the Israeli President’s Residence. I had to pass on the gala.

Monday evening – Beit Hanasi

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee was the featured speaker, and fans surrounded him before the event started.

The Ze’ev Jabotinsky Lecture is an annual event that was postponed from its earlier date.

The main room was full.

The yellow chair, which had been at all the Beit Hanasi events for two years, was in place.

However, with the announcement that the last hostage was retrieved from Gaza, the Ambassador helped President Herzog remove the chair.

Huckabee gave a proper talk about Jabotinsky; however, removing the yellow chair and his yellow pin stole the show.

I was on my way out to attend a special dinner with long-time friends, as astronauts were waiting to enter to meet the President.

Tuesday morning, Jerusalem International Convention Center, Binyunei Hauma

The full-day conference “Generation Truth” was held at the Jerusalem ICC.

Rabbi Yehoram Ulman of Bondi Beach, Australia, gave one keynote in the morning.

Social media stars participated in a morning panel discussion on antisemitism.

At these events, it is hard to stay inside listening and not go outside to see who is attending.

I first became a fan of Fiamma Nirenstein at a Jerusalem hotel many years ago, where she was featured at an event about antisemitism. I told her I remembered where she was sitting on the panel when the late Robert Wistrich warned of antisemitism becoming mainstream in Britain.

Gad Saad and his wife, I saw at Beit Hanasi. I was glad to be at his keynote talk as I had followed him as a fan online.

Flavio Bosonaro from Brazil gave his talk in English, but it seemed aimed more at the Brazilian presidential campaign.

The panel ‘Algorithms of Hate’ focused on social media.

The Mike Huckabee interview with Alex Traiman, JNS Jerusalem editor, was another favorite.

Dinesh D’Souza, on the left, and his wife were also at the Knesset.

Dumisani Washington, Lee Trink, Seth Dillon, Karyes Rhea, and Ruben Baumgarten are just a few names of impressive guests.

Not an internet or international star, but the man who gave me his chair at the crowded buffet lunch.

There could be much more about the conference.

Wednesday was a day focused on the funeral of Ran Gvili

Thursday night – Friends of Zion

I want to end with a special event at the Friends of Zion, where President Herzog opened with a video to commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. There were 6 candles for 6 million Jews murdered.

But also the movie ‘Quezon’s Game’ with the Philippine Embassy and Ambassador Aileen S. Mendiola.

Mike Huckabee was a guest, not a speaker. He rose to greet George Lewenstein, one of the Jews saved by Quezon, who spoke.

The story of how Manuel Quezon rescued 1200 Jews from Germany was new to me.

For those of you who are still reading here. Look it up, Manuel Quezon.

The movie is parallel with history. Not sure how comfortable the US staff were with how the US immigration policy worked to keep Jews out. The Philippines was a US territory at the time. Quezon went into exile in the US.

He had wanted to save 10,000 Jews, but only managed to get 1200 Jews to safety before the Japanese took over the Island. That is another chapter, and this is getting too long.

“He who saves one life saves the world entire.” Am Yisrael Chai

When moving to Jerusalem, Israel, almost 19 years ago, many things were new and different.

On a spring-like day, a favorite sign that winter is over is the colors of the flowers blooming in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, surrounded by the green new growth.

Also, seeing the white roses blooming in winter rather than the white snow is a Jerusalem favorite.

But this week I was not out every day enjoying the weather when it was warm.

Thursday at the Jerusalem International Conference Center was a conference “Ambassadors of Truth.”

You may have heard of this almost annual Jerusalem Conference Combatting Antisemitism this year.

I have gone in the past. This one was different, besides the calls to boycott it from a few Europeans and US “leaders,” which gave it more media attention.

There was the yellow chair empty – a symbol of remembering hostages and wanting their return.

Amichai Chikli, the Minister of Diaspora Affairs, was criticized for not consulting Diaspora leaders about who should be invited to the conference in Jerusalem.

The media paid close attention to who was invited to the conference, including Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Rally party, who came to Jerusalem and spoke.

He blamed rising antisemitism in Europe on migration and Islamism and stated support for Israel.

The panels included leading defenders of Israel on multiple international stages and media. If you do not know these names, please look them up and learn about their important work sharing the truth.

One national leader was the former President of the Republic of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes.

He was pleased to stop and let me take his photo after he finished his address, translated from Spanish.

Perhaps at these events, what happens in the halls is more important than the main stage.

For example, Lizzy Savetsky has spent countless hours defending Israel since October 7 and stayed around after the morning session with social media influencers to speak to attendees.

Several Ambassadors to Israel attended, notably the South Americans, Guatemala, Panama, and Paraguay.

My friend tells me I take it for granted that others know things when they do not. I have known Shawn Eni for a long time, before he became a media star with his fake Mossad posts on Twitter. On the right, I met “I’m That Jew” Eitan Chitayat for the first time after following his work for years.

The leaders of the Government Press Office were there, however, I only saw a few Knesset Members.

The US Ambassador’s residence is empty, waiting for the newest appointment to arrive.

But former Ambassador David Friedman was on stage for a one-on-one interview.

I am dropping all these names to share some of the people who came, like me, despite calls for a boycott.

The room, which was used in the past for this conference with tables as at a fancy dinner, was packed with chairs and people.

David Collier did important work to expose BBC failures in journalism and reporting. Sadly, they gave him an honored spot, but spelled his name wrong.

Sylvan Adams also spoke strongly about the importance of attending and not boycotting.

The security had been at a high level for the attendance of the Prime Minister, who came to speak.

Crowds and cameras came for Netanyahu and the list of foreign speakers.

My problem was keeping my phone charged to record it all.

I wanted to stay for the evening program, and that is what I feel is most important to share with you.

Before the program began, this was the message projected on the background screen: “If you receive an alert during an event, stay seated, bend over as much as possible, and protect your head with your hands for 10 MInutes. it is important to stay where you are to avoid injury.”

My going to the conference earlier in the day was delayed by an alert siren as I was leaving the house. I was very happy to be home and not outside on the street. The Houtis make sure we don’t forget there is a war raging around us. Again today, there was a ballistic missile aimed at Israel from Yemen and an alert.

A beautiful version of “October Rain” was part of the entertainment with dancers.

The main reason I wanted to come was to hear Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I first heard her speak at a Peres Tomorrow Conference years ago and have been a fan since. It was concerning when, over 10 years ago, Brandeis University withdrew her honorary degree.

Australian journalist Erin Molan received a special award, Beacon of Truth, from Minister Chikli.

What a world where a special award is given for speaking the truth.

There were protests against this conference by old voices in the US and Europe.

However, what I found the most impressive part of a very long day was the US university students who came. Their articulate voices are encouraging and the hope for the future.