From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Herzog invites diverse slate of guests to accompany him at Congress speech
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
WASHINGTON — President Isaac Herzog will be accompanied at his speech to Congress by guests that emphasize the depth of the US-Israel relationship, Israel’s connection with all of America’s Jewish communities, and the diversity of Israel’s society.
He will be joined by Clifton Truman Daniels, grandson of Harry Truman, the US president, who recognized Israel in 1948. American academic Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel – who famously marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement — will attend as well.
Herzog is also joined by Leah Goldin, whose son Hadar was killed in the 2014 Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. His body is still being held by Hamas. During his speech, Herzog will mention the two Israeli civilians and two bodies of IDF soldiers being held in Gaza.
To showcase Israel’s diversity, Herzog also invited two female regional Jewish agency representatives – Sigal Kanotopsky, who immigrated from Ethiopia, and Gadeer Kamel-Mreeh, a Druze former MK who now represents the agency in Washington.
Herzog also invited the heads of the Reform and Conservative movements, as well as the Orthodox Union.
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