The EAJC President attended the German-Israeli Summit in Berlin

The President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, attended the German-Israeli "Joint Perspectives" summit held in Berlin on February 14.

The conference was co-organized by the Israeli publication Jerusalem Post and the German outlet Die Welt.

During the discussions, politicians, diplomats, business leaders, and public figures from Israel and Germany addressed the prospects of cooperation between the two nations—against the backdrop of Israel's war with the terrorist organization Hamas, which began following the treacherous assault by terrorists from the Gaza Strip on southern Israeli towns on October 7, 2023.

Dear friends, I am pleased to welcome the organizers and participants of this conference.

It is highly symbolic that we are gathering in Germany this time. This land has given the world some of the greatest Jewish philosophers, writers, scientists, musicians, and thinkers. Jewish life on German soil has experienced various periods of prosperity and hardship—from medieval isolation and persecution, through rapid flourishing during the emancipation, to the tragic years of Nazism.

German society has drawn profound lessons from those dark years. Over the decades, a renewed and democratic Germany has become a true friend of Israel, consistently standing by the Jewish State in critical moments, a support that continues to this day and for which we are deeply grateful.

Today, the German authorities take Jewish security with the utmost seriousness, demonstrated by their uncompromising stance against any manifestations of antisemitism.

Consequently, Jewish life in Germany is experiencing a true renaissance. The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress maintains strong working relations with the revived Jewish communities and organizations in Germany, in which numerous individuals originating from the former Soviet Union play an instrumental role. Furthermore, we have recently launched a series of Jewish-themed publications in collaboration with one of the most prestigious German academic publishing houses, De Gruyter.

Yet, it is evident that not everyone has internalized the key lessons of World War II. It remains unrecognized by many where fundamentalist theories and ideologies built on blind hatred can lead, and how such phenomena destroy the very foundations of the societies in which they thrive. Most regrettably, on October 7, we witnessed once again the extent of inhuman cruelty of which people possessed by ideological hatred are capable.

Moreover, the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists against the Israeli civilian population has unleashed a wave of flagrant antisemitism worldwide. The scale of this persistent affliction—hatred toward Jews, which continuously assumes new forms—has once again shocked us.

It has become clear that the extensive work we perform, including that alongside our partners at the World Jewish Congress led by my long-time friend, Ambassador Ronald Lauder, is not enough. However, we must not despair. Education, active diplomatic efforts, and open dialogue maintain our conviction that we will one day speak of antisemitism solely as a relic of the past.

A powerful testament to this potential is interfaith dialogue. At one point, it may have seemed that religions were destined for eternal conflict. Yet, from centuries of religious wars and persecution, we have transitioned, within a relatively short period, to mutual recognition and religious tolerance.

In this regard, I must emphasize that we do not view the war against Hamas as a confrontation with Islam. While Hamas terrorists and other radical Islamists may claim to represent Muslims, we recognize that Islam, like other Abrahamic faiths, is founded on the principles of peace, cooperation, and mutual respect.

We do not have to look far for examples. Numerous Arab Muslims, as citizens of the State of Israel, participate in all areas of public life and hold high positions. Our Druze and Bedouin compatriots fight against terror shoulder-to-shoulder with Jews, serving honorably in the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Police.

The Abrahamic Accords have opened pathways for unprecedented cooperation between Israel and the Gulf states. The companies I lead are active participants in this process. Together with our partners in the United Arab Emirates, we are addressing critical challenges of water scarcity and food security in our region.

We remain firmly convinced that technology, a commitment to human life, and shared prosperity will usher in a new reality in the Middle East.

The company I head, Watergen, manufactures devices that extract clean, fresh drinking water directly from humidity in the air. Even prior to the conflict, several of these devices were installed in the Gaza Strip, where residents suffered from a severe lack of clean drinking water. Watergen was the sole company that, in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and local partners, installed dozens of its systems in Gaza. They were connected to solar panels and placed directly in local hospitals.

The brutal war unleashed by Hamas terrorists will not divert us from our path, nor will it harden our hearts. I am convinced that once a society rejects radical ideology, denounces falsehoods and propaganda, acknowledges its past errors, and elevates the sanctity of human life, profound change can occur in less than a generation. Should anyone doubt this, they need only look around. Germany has traversed this difficult journey and stands today as a magnificent example that even on the ruins of blinding hatred, a flourishing garden can be cultivated.

We will continue to fulfill our vital mission in this world—to serve as a "light unto the nations" and to build a more secure, stable, and peaceful future.

Thank you for your attention.