Ofir Akunis is the consul basic of Israel in New York, which covers Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
PROVIDED / COUNSULATE OF ISRAEL NEW YORK
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A prime Israeli diplomat was on the town final week to rejoice Hanukkah, meet with representatives from the Jewish Federation of Better Philadelphia and go to the Weitzman Nationwide Museum of American Jewish Historical past.
Not lengthy after he arrived within the metropolis Thursday, Ofir Akunis, the consul basic of Israel in New York, sat down with Metro in Middle Metropolis to debate his function, the battle in Gaza and antisemitism in the USA.
Akunis was appointed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and began the job in Might. He beforehand served as a authorities minister and as a member of the Knesset, Israel’s legislature, affiliated with Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud occasion.
This journey was his second to Philadelphia. He mentioned his first go to got here in 2017 and included a tour of the Weitzman Museum.
The next interview was edited for size and readability.
Why did you make the journey right here to Philadelphia?
Initially, it’s below my duty as consul basic of Israel to New York. So below my duty is New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Ohio. It’s really a big space with a number of Jewish communities.
The purpose of my journey is to fulfill the Jewish communities. At the moment is the second mild of Hanukkah, the second candle of Hanukkah, and we’ll mild a candle collectively. And I’ll meet the pinnacle of the (Jewish) Federation. We’ll speak concerning the challenges and the present scenario right here in Philly and in the USA basically.
How shut do you assume is a deal that may result in the discharge of the hostages and a ceasefire?
Final week, it was very shut. I feel that Hamas modified their thoughts over the past week, and I’m sorry for that, as a result of final week, it was nearer than ever. Now it’s not the scenario. I hope that they may open their minds and perceive that sufficient is sufficient.
Right here in Philadelphia, now we have seen a pro-Palestine encampment on the College of Pennsylvania. We’ve got additionally seen antisemitic vandalism. Have you ever been following this?
I adopted. It was a shock, and it was a disgrace. It was a wakeup name to the American society, not solely to the State of Israel. It was a wakeup name as a result of the American society needs the liberty of speech, democracy – the values that we’re sharing. Democracy, human rights. These folks, they don’t seem to be sharing the identical values with us, with the Individuals, or with the Israelis, or with the Western world.
These folks that you simply talked about assist the terrorists. It’s not a debate concerning the remaining standing of the battle within the Center East.
Consul Common Ofir Akunis, second from proper, is seated subsequent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.PROVIDED / COUNSULATE OF ISRAEL NEW YORK
I’ve spoken to some Palestinians who’ve immigrated to the Philadelphia area who’ve been concerned in protests and demonstrations. They are saying your nation, Israel, is committing a genocide. How do you reply to that?
We’re speaking about liars. We’re speaking about impolite folks. The terrorists – they’re nonetheless supporting them – invaded Israel throughout a vacation and murdered hundreds of harmless folks, kidnapped them. Raped harmless ladies, a whole bunch of harmless ladies, then they shot them to loss of life. The place? Within the Nova competition, on the music competition.
We didn’t begin the hearth, and it, and so they realize it, that there was a ceasefire on Oct. 7, at 6:29 within the morning. Chanting and screaming ‘from the river to the sea.’ In order for you a Muslim terror state headed by Hamas between the river and the ocean, so that you need to wipe Israel off of the map, to destroy the State of Israel. So how dare they? They’re very impolite folks, and so they assume that they’re educated. I feel that they’re mistaken.
How would you describe the Jewish group in the USA as feeling proper now, a bit greater than a 12 months after the Oct. 7 assault?
Essentially the most optimistic factor is that they’re united. All of the Jewish communities are united. They assist Israel. There’s variations between the Jewish communities – secular, the ultra-orthodox, the traditionals, the others. However due to Oct. 7 and the images that we noticed from the schools and the institutes, I feel that their unity remains to be ongoing, and I’m very glad.
We’re preparing for a turnover in Washington, D.C, with Donald Trump returning as president. How are you getting ready for that and do you assume that can change the connection between Israel and the USA?
The American folks determined, and we’re working with the present administration. We are going to work with the brand new administration, and the State of Israel will all the time cooperate and collaborate with any American administration that you simply, the Individuals, will resolve.
The Anti-Defamation League is reporting a greater than 200% improve in antisemitic incidents throughout the nation. How does the consulate attempt to fight this rise?
Now it’s higher. Now the present scenario among the many campuses, it’s a lot better than it was once. I hope that it’s going to proceed. There’s a number of safety – I’m speaking about New York. Subsequent time I’ll go to the institutes right here.
We aren’t towards individuals who criticize Israel, however they can’t be antisemitic. They can not act in violence. In order for you us to return and to speak with the folks, all of us are keen to, together with me.
