In early September 2011, the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP) held a series of meetings in New York City and Washington DC. Top on the agenda were the Palestinians’ effort to win the endorsement of the UN General Assembly for a unilaterally declared statehood. Other issues discussed by the lawmakers included security requirements for a viable Middle East peace and the efforts by Iran to gain nuclear weapons.

Fifty-five Jewish lawmakers from 22 countries gathered in Jerusalem in June 2011 for the  International Consultation of Jewish Parliamentarians. The meeting was co-organized by the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians and the World Jewish Congress (WJC). The meeting focused on developing common strategies to combat anti-Semitism and the assault on Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. In a hearing in the Knesset, moderated by outgoing ICJP Chairman Gary Ackerman from the United States, numerous parliamentarians spoke about the growing challenges felt by politicians across the world.