Washington, DC
Washington, DCiStock

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Israel’s Minister of Construction Yoav Galant, former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon, and diplomat Dennis Ross will be among the roster of speakers at the Israeli-American Council (IAC)’s third annual National Israeli-American Conference, which will take place September 24th through 26th in Washington, D.C. Additional marquee speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled to host this historic conference—the largest gathering of Israeli-Americans in history—which will engage, inspire, and mobilize our community,” said Adam Milstein, Chairman of the IAC. “The event will demonstrate that the IAC is not only a growing organization; it is a movement that has vast potential to strengthen America, Israel, and the Jewish people.”

The event will bring together more than 2,000 activists from the Israeli-American and Jewish- American communities, along with senior public officials and diplomats, cultural icons, prominent thinkers and journalists, civic and business leaders, and many other powerful voices from both the U.S. and Israel.

“The National Israeli-American Conference is convening major thought leaders, policymakers, and influencers for critical conversations about how to strengthen the three pillars vital for the Jewish future: the next generation, the State of Israel, and the Diaspora,” said IAC CEO Shoham Nicolet. “Israeli-Americans constitute 10 percent of Jewish Americans. Together, we will explore how our community can serve as a living bridge to address the growing gaps between the Jewish state and the Jewish people, particularly here in the U.S.”

Other speakers will include U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman, Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis, and current and former Knesset members from a range of parties. The conference will also feature the 2016 recipient of the Israel Prize, and numerous military officers, academics, editors, journalists, authors, artists, and non-profit leaders from both countries.

This year, there will be a special track for teen participants during the conference, under the umbrella of IAC Eitanim, a unique leadership and entrepreneurship project-based program that allows students to connect, explore, and experience Israel while preparing for college and developing professional skills.