World Holocaust Forum events set to start with leaders of 49 countries

I welcome the leaders from around the world who are coming here, to Jerusalem, to mark with us 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp.
It is important that they remember where we came from, and it is important that they see what we have achieved. pic.twitter.com/8kX9ubTejO

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 21, 2020

High-level delegations from 49 countries are expected to take part in the main event at Yad Vashem on Thursday afternoon, to remember the Holocaust and commit to fighting antisemitism, while 40 will attend a dinner the night before hosted by President Reuven Rivlin. Leaders began arriving in the early hours of Tuesday, with the presidents of 10 different countries landing in Ben-Gurion Airport, among other leaders. Many more are expected to arrive on Wednesday, including two kings, a Grand Duke and two crown princes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message as dignitaries began to arrive in Israel, saying: “I welcome the leaders from around the world who are coming here, to Jerusalem, to mark with us 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp. “It is important that they remember where we came from, and it is important that they see what we have achieved,” Netanyahu stated. Netanyahu has meetings planned with US Vice President Mike Pence, Russian President Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. Most of the visiting leaders asked to meet with Netanyahu, and his office is trying to find time for as many as possible. Netanyahu will have a working breakfast with Macron on Wednesday morning, in which he plans to bring up France, the UK and Germany triggering the dispute mechanism of their nuclear deal with Iran. Netanyahu will encourage the implementation of “snapback sanctions,” meaning a return of the UN’s sanctions on Teheran, a possible end result of putting Iran on notice in the world powers’ agreement. The prime minister also plans to ask Macron to have his country designate all of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, instead of just part of it. The UK has already done so and Germany plans to follow suit. Israel’s natural gas exports are also expected to be part of the discussions with Macron, as France asked to join the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum last week. Other members are Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Italy and Jordan, and the US has asked to be a permanent observer. Netanyahu will meet with Pence and Putin separately on Thursday, and will discuss Iran with them, as well. In addition, the Netanyahu and Putin will discuss continued security coordination in Syria to avoid clashes between the Israeli and Russian militaries. They also plan to sign several economic agreements. Rivlin began his intensive series of meetings, hosting his counterparts from Romania, Bulgaria, Portugal, Georgia and the governor-general of Australia. The president is expected to meet with all the heads of state arriving in Israel, for half an hour each. The dinner at the President’s Residence will feature a film consisting of statements by leaders of countries with delegations attending the World Holocaust Forum made agains antisemitism. Source