35 mayors from over 20 countries will visit Jerusalem and tour Israel this week (May 9-15) as participants of the 22nd Jerusalem Conference of Mayors. The event, which welcomes one of the largest ever delegations of its kind to Israel, and follows the invitation of Mayor of Jerusalem Uri Lupolianski and the Jerusalem Municipality, is sponsored by the American Jewish Congress - Council for World Jewry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and the Konrad Adenauer foundation.
The visiting leaders include Mayors from cities around the world including Stockholm, Milan, Buenos Aires, and Cleveland, Ohio, as well as the past prime minister of Estonia and president of the US Conference of Mayors.
The theme of the conference, “The Role of Mayor in Times of Crisis” is reflected in sessions highlighting disaster preparedness and emergency response, homeland security issues, and will present hi-tech business opportunities for municipality leaders.
“Every mayor who takes part becomes an ambassador of good will for Israel, and several past participants of this event have gone on to become presidents and prime ministers in their respective countries,” stated American Jewish Congress Chairman Jack Rosen.