By, Sandy Rashty
1 min read
Israeli Ambassador Mark Regev hailed the contribution of British women to his country when he addressed Wizo's annual dinner in central London on Monday.
He told the 300 guests - who raised a record £350,000 - that having established Wizo in 1920, British women have continued to make an impact by backing its 800 Israeli educational and welfare centres for people of all faiths.
"Wizo is making a difference, a real difference," he said. It supported childcare, helped abused women and enabled Arab women to get an education and employment.
"Anyone who knows the history of Zionism and the history of the Jewish people in the 20th century knows that Wizo was there in the early pioneering days, supporting women who were coming to Israel to build the land when there were swamps and mosquitoes. In later years, Wizo did crucial work in helping people fleeing the Nazis and, after the war, helping Holocaust survivors.
"Then we had the massive immigration from the Arab countries and Wizo was there again in the transit camps, helping immigrant families, immigrant women, to adjust to a new life in a new country. Then Wizo was there again with the immigration from the Soviet Union, the immigration from Ethiopia."
Labour MP John Mann received a standing ovation after pledging to expose those who sent him abusive messages on social media. People had accused him of being part of a "conspiracy" after he confronted Ken Livingstone for claiming that Hitler backed Zionism.
Mr Mann's call to fight antisemitism was echoed by Colonel Richard Kemp. The retired British Army officer went on to discuss the close military ties between the UK and Israel, "closer than many people would think. Those relationships are particularly close on the military side and on the intelligence side."
In his opinion, "the morality of the IDF and the restraint of the IDF is greater than that of the British Armed Forces. If you join the British Army, you join because you want fight. You don't want to sit behind a desk and type. If you join the IDF, you don't join for that reason. You get some people who would naturally want to be soldiers. But most wouldn't. They have to defend their country. The choice between doing it and not doing it is [the existence of] Israel."
Trustee Annabel Stelzer said "Wizo believes that each person has something to offer, which strengthens Israel as a whole".