At a time when Israel is misunderstood by so many, nothing is more powerful than bringing global leaders to see the truth for themselves. This is exactly what we did last month with our 34th International Mayors Conference, bringing more than 20 mayors from 13 countries to experience Israel — its resilience, its innovation, and its contributions to the world.
Our program has a remarkable record. Former participants have gone on to become presidents and prime ministers, including William Lai in Taiwan, Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, Mauricio Macri in Argentina, and Matteo Renzi in Italy, among others. Their time in Israel has shaped national policy and strengthened international partnerships critical to safeguarding the standing of the Jewish community and countering antisemitism.
Under the theme “AI – Empowering the Cities of Tomorrow,” the Conference highlighted Israel’s ingenuity and its far-reaching contributions to the world. Israeli innovation is not abstract; it is practical and impactful, improving daily life for millions by making roads safer, preventing cyberattacks, strengthening emergency response systems, advancing medical care, and helping cities operate more efficiently. Throughout the Conference, mayors experienced these innovations firsthand—through live demonstrations, in-depth discussions, and direct engagement with technologies they can adapt and implement in their own cities.
American Jewish Congress’ Leadership and Mayoral Delegation Hosted at the President’s Residence by President Isaac Herzog
American Jewish Congress’ Leadership and Mayoral Delegation Hosted at the Prime Minister’s Office by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The 34th International Mayors Conference
This year’s conference was designed to give global city leaders an unfiltered view of Israel during an especially consequential moment. Our aim was clear: help international leaders understand Israel through direct experience.
At a time when Israel’s standing is strained in parts of the world, we brought one of our most diverse delegations ever. Mayors joined us from New York, U.S. to Monrovia, Liberia; from Panama City, Panama to Leeds, United Kingdom; from cities across Florida, California, and Texas; and from countries as diverse as Colombia,Paraguay, Poland, Albania, Czech Republic, Uganda, among others.
Over five days, the delegation engaged with Israel’s top leadership: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, party leaders in the Knesset, and many other senior officials.
American Jewish Congress’ Leadership and Mayoral Delegation Hosted at the Foreign Ministry by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar
Remarks by New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the 34th International Mayors Conference
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee Addresses Mayoral Delegation
Confronting Tragedy and Understanding Israel’s Story
With the participating Mayors we traveled to Israel’s south, where the realities of October 7 could be seen and felt. In Kibbutz Kfar Aza, they witnessed the devastation left behind by Hamas’s attacks. In Sderot, they saw the extraordinary resilience of a community that continues to rebuild despite constant threat.
At the site of the Nova Music Festival, we stood in the place where so many young lives were brutally taken. Together, these moments gave the delegation a profound understanding of both the trauma Israel endured and the strength with which its communities are rising again.
The delegation also visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. For the Mayors, this was a solemn and grounding experience, placing the events of today within the long and painful arc of Jewish history. Standing in Yad Vashem and then meeting communities affected by October 7 created a deeper, more human understanding of why Israel exists, why Jewish security can never be taken for granted, and why the fight against antisemitism remains a moral imperative shared by all democratic societies.
Mayoral Delegation Touring Yad Vashem and Learning More About the Holocaust
Mayoral Delegation at Kibbutz Kfar Aza Witnessing the Horrors of October 7
Mayoral Delegation United in Prayer at the Site of the Nova Music Festival Massacre
Showcasing Israel’s Innovation and Global Impact
In Israel, the future of cities is already being built. The mayors met with pioneering companies such as Checkpoint, Mobileye, Darwin AI, NoTraffic and many others that are developing AI solutions transforming public safety, transportation, urban planning, and nearly every aspect of modern life.
For many mayors, this was the first time they saw how technologies developed in Israel already touch the lives of their own citizens — and, most importantly, how they can improve the lives of many more.
The delegation also rang the opening bell at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and met with leading experts, innovators, and investors, gaining insight into the economic powerhouse Israel has become, even while confronting profound security threats.
Mayoral Delegation at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Bell Ringing Ceremony
Leading Israeli Cybersecurity Innovator Check Point Software Technologies Hosts and Presents to Mayoral Delegation
Why the International Mayors Conference Matters
The International Mayors Conference is far more than a week in Israel. It offers global city leaders a direct and unfiltered encounter with a country that is endlessly discussed yet seldom understood. Seeing Israel firsthand cuts through abstractions, replacing distant narratives with lived experience.
These relationships do not end when the delegation returns home. The American Jewish Congress works closely with participating mayors throughout the year — supporting partnerships, facilitating follow-up exchanges, and ensuring that what they witnessed in Israel continues to inform their leadership and public voice.
This is why the conference matters. Bringing global leaders to Israel cultivates informed allies, forges durable partnerships, and creates long-term impact for Israel and for Jewish communities worldwide. In a time of rising antisemitism and widespread misinformation, there is no substitute for leaders seeing Israel and the Jewish story with their own eyes.
With that in mind, we are already looking forward to next year’s conference, where we will showcase Israel to a whole new set of eyes.
