“Friendship for Israel is not a partisan matter, it is a national commitment. We cannot allow Israel to be a political football between different sides and different ideologies,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as he addressed the opening dinner of the annual Leadership Mission to Israel of The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (COP).

“Support for Israel must and will always remain a bi-partisan issue,’’ he added. He also sent his ‘’warm wishes’’ to President Trump. ‘’I hope he is able to visit us soon.”

President Rivlin commended the delegation as being community leaders that care about Israel, “we do not take this for granted and I thank each and every one of you for your strong support, for what you are doing in your cities, states and internationally for Israel is real, not just words but action and we appreciate it.”

The American delegation is made of more than 110 leaders from the Conference’s 53 member organizations, the largest group ever.

The Conference participants are in Israel until Thursday for meeting with Israeli political leaders after a weeklong high level visit to Morocco and Egypt where they met with Egyptian President el-Sisi. The Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Religious Affairs and newly-appointed Ambassador to the United States were among the many top officials and societal leaders who met the conference delegates in Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat and Fez.

COP Chairman Stephen M. Greenberg and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Malcolm Hoenlein described the “atmosphere of a new era between Israel and the Arab world, one with new opportunities as well as challenges.

‘’We heard from the leaders in Egypt, Morocco and other Arab countries about the emerging possibilities and realities. They spoke of the need to promote tolerance and reject the extremist influences,” said Hoenlein. “The mutual need to counter extremism and other threats is a frequent theme. Israel is seen throughout large parts of North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East not as a source of instability, but as contributing to regional stability with much to offer, including energy,” he added.

In response to journalists’ questions about recent disturbing events affecting the Jewish community in the United States, Hoenlein said that there has been a rise in anti-Semitism in the U.S. and around the world, especially on college campuses. He said, “American society is not collapsing and Jews are generally not in danger, but there has to be a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. There has to be a powerful condemnation and response at all levels, especially by university officials, policy makers and legislators, leaders of all sectors.”

The Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations, which is the voice of organized American Jewry since six decades, advances the interests of the American Jewish Community, promotes broad-based support for Israel, and addresses critical concerns facing Israel and world Jewry