In recent years, the European Leadership Network (ELNET) launched a special outreach program to Muslim communities in Europe, and in 2019 organized a first-ever delegation to Israel of 40 imams (Muslim clergy) and Muslim community leaders from France and Belgium. The purpose of the visit was to provide these leaders with a deeper understanding of Israel while fostering interreligious dialogue with the Jewish community. On this webinar you’ll hear about this extraordinary event from the head of the delegation, Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, one of the leading moderate imams in France.

Imam Chalghoumi has been actively involved in interfaith work and combating extremism following a series of Islamist terrorist attacks in France and Belgium. During the visit, Imam Chalghoumi asserted that anti-Zionism is antisemitism, stating, "what characterizes anti-Zionism is hatred. If we were simply talking about criticism of the State of Israel, we wouldn't see the hatred and talk of the need to wipe out and destroy Israel."

In conversation the speakers will focus on the strategy to fight antisemitism and build a broad pro-Israel consensus in Europe.

Speakers

Imam Hassen Chalghoumi
Imam of the Drancy municipal mosque in Seine Saint-Denis, France
Founder, Conference of Imams 

David Siegel
President
Friends of ELNET

Dr. Arie Bensemhoun
CEO
ELNET-France

Larry J. Hochberg
President
Hochberg Family Foundation

Joseph Braude
Center for Peace Communications