While the issue of Israeli emigration has grabbed headlines in recent weeks, the Israeli-American Council is preparing to hold a first-of-its-kind conference in Washington this weekend, aimed at unifying Israeli-American communities dispersed throughout the U.S. Some 800,000 Israelis are estimated to be living in the U.S., and some feel that attitudes have changed toward them in recent years. "There is a change in the thinking of the Jewish community, and the Israelis in the U.S. are feeling less shame and a greater willingness to step away from the perception of temporariness," IAC head Sagi Balasha told Israel Hayom. "In Israel, too, the perception is undergoing a revolutionary change. Starting with [late Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin, who described Israelis who left the country as a 'despicable cowards,' and ending with [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu calling them a strategic asset," Balasha said. However, while Israelis may no longer feel shame over leaving, they are still different than other immigrant groups. "Immigrants from other countries have fewer pangs of conscience," Balasha said. A recent IAC poll revealed that 96 percent of Israelis living in the U.S. define themselves as Israeli. American and Israeli politicians are expected to participate at the event in Washington, among them new Interior Minister Gilad Erdan, Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog, 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman.
Israeli-Americans to hold first unity conference in US
Israeli-American Council to hold first conference of its kind in Washington this weekend, aimed at unifying Israeli-American communities across the U.S. • "Immigrants from other countries have fewer pangs of conscience," says council head Sagi Balasha.
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