US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz will headline the first Israel Hayom summit in New York on Tuesday, December 2, and he won’t be alone. His appearance comes just a week after he spearheaded the UN resolution to adopt the Trump plan for the future of Gaza and ahead of his historic visit to Israel.
Dozens of prominent figures are scheduled to attend the all-day event at the Hilton Midtown, bringing together the people behind the world’s most dramatic news. The lineup includes current and former senior government officials, leading business executives, heads of major Jewish organizations, survivors of Hamas captivity, and families of the hostages.
The conference is positioned as one of the year’s most significant international events, focusing squarely on the central relationship between Israel and the US, as well as the unique and growing challenges faced by the world’s largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
Dr. Miriam Adelson is hosting the conference, which will feature former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator John Fetterman, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, former US Ambassador David Friedman, former Ambassador and Minister Gilad Erdan, Minister Amichai Chikli, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and many other leading figures from the diplomatic sphere.
Key leaders from the Jewish community, dedicated to reinforcing the bond between US Jews and Israel, will also be featured. These include Ron Lauder, Malcolm Hoenlein, Rabbi Ari Berman, Elan Carr, Sylvan Adams, and several others.
Shar-Shalom Gerbi, Director of the Education and Community Division at Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-JNF, who is also participating, stated, “KKL-JNF considers the bond between Israel and Diaspora Jewry to be a national mission. We work to strengthen national unity among the people through education, leadership, and deep exposure to the Israeli story. As a Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) who served dozens of days in Operation Swords of Iron and witnessed the profound strength and self-sacrifice of contemporary young Israelis, I am committed, alongside my colleagues at KKL-JNF, to empowering a young generation connected to values, Zionism, and engagement, ensuring the intergenerational connection remains vibrant, meaningful, and strengthening.”
A major portion of the conference will be dedicated to Operation Swords of Iron, examining its many facets, with a dedicated, central chapter focusing on the hostages still held in Gaza.
Then-US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (Photo: Yossi Zeliger)
The conference host, Yoav Limor, will lead an open interview with survivors of captivity, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, who will share their personal testimonies on stage. Limor will also interview the families of captivity survivor Edan Alexander and the family of Omer Neutra, the fallen soldier abducted to Gaza, who was recently returned for burial in Israel.
The discussions will further explore the strategic considerations that shaped cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington throughout the war. Morgan Ortagus, who served as a representative of the American administration in the Middle East, will share revelations about the joint war rooms. Amos Hochstein will address the northern front, discussing whether Israel and Lebanon are moving toward or away from a resolution. Other panels will cover the future of the State of Israel post-war, the effect of escalating antisemitism on Jewish communities, and the media’s role during a time of national security and social crisis.
The economic segments of the conference will highlight Jewish and Israeli growth, innovation, and entrepreneurial processes. For example, Ofra Strauss will speak with Yasmine Lukatz about maintaining business resilience during crises, while Michael Eisenberg will present The 11th Million Vision, his initiative to bring one million additional Jews to Israel to strengthen the nation’s economic, technological, and social forces.
Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council (Photo: Noam Galai)
Yoel Zilberman, CEO and founder of Hashomer Hahadash organization, another participant, noted, “While Israel is learning, correcting, and actively rebuilding its security power even as it fights a war on seven fronts, Jewish communities worldwide have found themselves unprotected on the front line. Jews are confronting hatred on campuses, in the streets, and in synagogues. This reality mandates change, necessitating a move to establish a global Jewish security network – a ‘guard for the Jewish people’ – that will connect global communities, Israel, and state security bodies.”
Other notable participants will include Avigdor Kahalani, Chairman of the Shazar Center, Shaul Shani, Chairman of the Rashi Foundation, Prof. Uriel Reichman, Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Reichman University, Itai Granek, Director General of the Ministry of Heritage, Michal Gerstler, Head of Communications and Government Relations at El Al, and many others.
Tickets here: https://tickchak.co.il/Israel1
