A Tel Aviv building
A Tel Aviv buildingIDF

Over 25 mayors from 6 continents will attend Israel's annual International Mayors Conference next week. The theme will be: International Cooperation on Hi Tech, Clean Tech and Education. 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the mayors of Israel's three largest cities - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa - will host the mayors from around the world for the unique conference on municipal cooperation. Taking place June 12-14, the conference is held under the auspices of the American Council for World Jewry, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Union of Local Authorities in Israel.  

Who's Coming?
So far, mayors from the United States, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Hungary, Greece, Kenya, Tanzania, El Salvador, Uruguay, Malta, Cape Verde, Peru and Bosnia & Herzegovina have confirmed their participation.

The mayors will meet with their local counterparts, national leaders, heads of leading non-profits and private industry experts to discuss ways that local authorities can leverage international cooperation for the betterment of their citizens.

"It is a real honor for us to partner with the Foreign Ministry and the Union of Local Authorities on this conference of international significance," said Jack Rosen, Chairman of the American Council for World Jewry. "This gathering will allow municipal leaders from around the world – often tomorrow's national leaders – to learn from Israel's successes and exchange ideas and know-how that will improve the lives of people across the globe."

The opening reception will be held on Sunday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. On Monday, a panel discussion on the use of technology in education will be held, with Education Minister Gideon Saar and Dr. Yossi Ben Dov, CEO of Time To Know. The mayors will then dine on Monday evening with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.

On Tuesday, June 14, the visiting mayors will meet with Opposition Leader MK Tzipi Livni, and will then visit the Bialik-Rogozin School in Tel Aviv, where non-Jewish migrant children from 48 different countries study. Later in the day, they will be treated to a private tour of Haifa's port and a nighttime cruise of the harbor with Mayor Yona Yahav. 

Wednesday will feature a tour of the mixed Jewish-Arab neighborhood of Kababir in Haifa, followed by a briefing at Rambam Medical Center's state-of-the-art underground parking garage that can be converted into a war-time emergency room in under three hours.