Jerusalem, Israel - Dec. 11, 2017 - The annual Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference was held at the Jerusalem Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Wednesday. Additional security was on hand, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the night before his intention to speak. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman were listed on the program, but did not attend.
Jerusalem Post Editor-in-chief Yaakov Katz, opened the conference, attended by diplomats, media and invited guests. Israeli Minister of Transportation and Intelligence Israel Katz was the first government official of many to speak. Katz was followed by Chris Mitchell, CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief who introduced a documentary film with scenes of Israelis working in humanitarian efforts around the world.
Those who came to hear Netanyahu talk about Yerushalayim were disappointed, as he did not mention "Jerusalem" once. His presentation, accompanied by colorful images and graphs, was media perfect for his role serving as Israel's Foreign Minister.
MK Yair Lapid, Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked were among the Israeli speakers. Labor Party Chair Avi Gabbay gave his first major address in English to the conference, stating he wants to be "the next Prime Minister of Israel."
President Reuven Rivlin in conversation with J Post Editor Katz spoke extensively on Yerushalayim. Siting numbers of Jews in Yerushalayim over the centuries, Rivlin emphasized, "We are here to stay, like it or not."
A panel moderated by former Jerusalem Post editor Steve Linde consisted of international diplomats and columnist Caroline Glick, discussed the threat of terror.
Multiple sponsors of the conference were given brief time slots to make a presentation. The first and most impressive was Avital Rubin, who spoke of "Growing up With Terrorism." On December 17, 2001, her father David Rubin and 3-year-old brother Ruby were driving home from Yerushalayim when terrorists shot a round of bullets at their car. Both were seriously injured. A bullet through Ruby's neck and missed killing him by a millimeter. More than two years of operations and post-trauma therapy were involved in recovery. Though she was not physically wounded, Avital, and thousands Israeli children, are also affected by terror.
David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh, took the trauma his family endured and founded the Shiloh Israel Children's Fund, to provide victims of terror with healing therapies. Rubin followed his daughter on stage and expanded on their family's story and his organization. Family members supporting them in the audience were Avital's mother Lisa Rubin. Lisa's brother Michael Stern, and and his wife Jennifer, who attended Beis Yaakov.. Further Baltimore connections, Avital's grandfather attended TA and on her grandmother's side there are many cousins with Baltimore roots.
