IsraAID presents activities at Darfurian Genocide Conference

Yesterday - June 25, 2007 a conference was held in Bet Ha Tfozot in Tel Aviv University. The conference named "Darfur Crisis, Israel and the Jewish People" was initiated and held by Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy.

IsraAID was invited to participate and present its mutual HIAS/IsraAID program in Chad.

Speakers included:

Ms. Ruth Messinger, President of the American Jewish World Services (AJWS) who spoke about AJWS assistance and advocacy program to aid the Darfurian refugees.

Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Former Chief Rabbi of Israel and the current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv spoke about the Jewish ethics of helping a person in need worldwide.

Advocate Neil Gringrus, Director of HIAS Israel and member of IsraAID presented the HIAS/IsraAID program in Chad and importance on Jewish hands-on activities.

Ms. Simona Halperin, representative of INGO/UN division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke about the government's role in aiding Darfur.

Assaf Uni, Haaretz Newspaper, spoke as an eye witness from his recent trip to Chad.

Advocate Anat Ben-Dor, Head of the Refugee Rights Clinic at TAU's Law Faculty, spoke about the situation of the Sudanese refugees entering Israel.

Ms. Jacqueline Murekatete, Jacqueline’s Human Rights Corner, spoke about her personnel experience as a survivor of the Rwanda genocide.

At the end of the event the audience visited the opening of an exhibition of photographs taken by Mr. Uriel Sinai in refugee camps in Chad whilst on assignment for Haaretz newspaper.

The event has been sponsored by the Pears Foundation and the exhibition in partnership with the American Jewish Committee