it is no secret that ajc believes in

the ajc release of a call to action on anti-semitism that has important recommendation is that we can all benefit from with a new curriculum curriculum, undertaking studies of jewish communities to block social media sites to incite hatred and violence that as you know anti-semitism is not just a jewish issue progress cannot be addressed by jewish organizations along like all forms of prejudice to open in societies of every corner of the globe. [applause] it is simple. we cannot and we will not tolerate it. that is why the united states is devoting more resources to embassies embassies, consulates under pressure and under threat and to push back against anti-semitism and earlier this year with the european union to organize the first on anti-semitism in history where people of all faiths it took to the podium to pledged to halt its rise. with that special envoy to combat anti-semitism has traveled to 25 countries in 37 communities to discuss the situation to find new ways to combat anti-semitism wherever it exists. [applause] >> for over 100 years ajc has led the campaign against into

deputy secretary of state tony blinken is a longtime friend of ajc.he has served on both ends of pennsylvania avenue in positions of great responsibility, and edition to spending -- in addition to spending time practicing law and spending time in a washington think tank. he spent 10 of them working for vice president i did. first as the head of then senator biden's foreign relations staff and then later as his security advisor. as you know, the biden family are now in morning of the tragic death of the vice president son, beau, five days ago. to tony and others in this room we offer our sincere condolences. the world with which ajc interacts every day in our global advocacy work is in jeopardy and massive transition, with new and evolving threats, competing national interests and some but not quite enough true friends. today, i'm privileged to ask deputy secretary of state tony blinken, a true friend of ajc and a remarkable american, to join us here on stage. [applause] secretary blinken: thank you all very much. it is wonderful to be with you today.

with organizations like ajc at the forefront, communities are mobilizing in response. in france germany, the united kingdom, leaders have strongly condemned these acts of vile hatred reinforced security and communities around key sites and expressed their unshakeable solidarity with the citizens and citizens of many faiths have formed human rings of protection around synagogues and denmark and sweden and norway, but more, much more must be done to make this fight a global priority. last month the ajc released a very thought provoking call to action on anti-sechlmitism that all of us can benefit from and this includes developing new curricula for civic education undertaking thorough studies at of jewish communities and blocking media sites that encite hate and violence, but all of you know so very well that anti-semitism is not just a jewish issue. it's not a jewish issue, period. it cannot be addressed by jewish is communities a lobe it's a threat to open societies in every corner of the globe. [ applause ] it's simple. we cannot and we will not tolerate it. that's why

exemplary leader and a local citizen and a good friend who was celebrating 25 years at the helm of the ajc. [applause] congratulations, the muscles of we look forward to another 25 years. at the conference with our distinguished guests including the foreign minister of bulgaria it is great to be here with you as well. [applause] it is a real pleasure to join all of you to see so many familiar faces even if maya was not the one you were hoping for. [laughter] secretary kerry very much wanted to be here today. has many of you know, he has great admiration for the work that you do for the security of israel and the well-being of the jewish people and the dignity of all. the baby off his feet for a short while but very much in the lead of laurel -- all efforts across the board probably the smartest thing we did at the state department was set -- sign up for that at&t family plan because he is burning up the phone lines night and day and no time zone is safe. [laughter] we're looking forward to having him back in the office very soon. we are fortunate to have the extraordinary team at the state

i am so privileged i think we are both, to be here with the ajc. i want to thank the remarkable david harris. for me i've learned to admire the american jewish committee in the last year, and organizations like yours are so needed. i'm so grateful for you being here and for also having this discussion. the second person remark that i really hope, while we should have a serious debate, we should have a respectable one. with all the challenges facing us, i think we should have a spirit of -- and as much as possible -- and caroline let me shake your hand. [applause] i think that it will manage to prove that we can have a respectful civilized debate among us we will be doing something for people. >> i would just interrupt you and say i agree. [laughter] >> the third person remark is just about myself. before we address the issue. i am a zionist. a part of my beloved wife children, their family, friends. there is nothing more sacred in my life in a jewish democratic state. so whatever i believe in and whatever might approach is because of that. because

you can see ajc staff there which will give it to you or you can tweet your question to at ajc global using the hash tag and that is for those following us online and on c-span today. if you don't understand what i just said at ajc global and if you are here you can fill out the sheet or ask somebody younger working on their phone right now. [ laughter ] >> at the conclusion, each debater will have three minutes to give some concluding remarks. finally, as i said this follows in the great tradition at ajc. we value the notion of bringing different sides to express their views. both individuals have tremendous respect for each other and we have tremendous respect for them. i would ask the audience to do the same. please hold the applause despite the temptation until the end and the debaters know although they will strike hard blows, they will strike fair one. we have agreeari will go first and we'll start with your opening statement. >> thank you so much. let me begin before we start with three personal remarks. i hope they'll be taken be taken off my time. first of all thank you so mu

deputy secretary of state tony blinkon is a longtime friend of ajc. he has served on both ends of pennsylvania avenue in positions of great responsibility. in addition to spending time in the practice of law and a stint at a washington think tank. in more than 20 years in government he spent ten working for vice president biden and the head of the then senator biden's foreign commission's staff and the national security adviser. all who know the biden family are now in mourning over the tragic death of the vice president's son beau nine days ago. to tony and the vice president's many other friends in this room today we offer our sincere condolences. the world with which ajc interacts every day in our global jewish advocacy work is a world in jeopardy and in massive transition with new and evolving threats threats, competing national interests and some, but not quite enough true friends. today i'm privileged to ask deputy secretary of state anthony

it is no secret that ajc believes in the two state decision as more of a practical solution then others proposed. more than that, we have advocated for it. more than that, we believe it is not a shine of weakness to engage in different points of views. it is a sign of strength. the -- before a debate takes off, please turn your head to the screens for a short video to offer a bit of background. thank you. [applause] [video clip] >> the struggle to find a permanent solution to the israeli-palestinian conflict has plagued the two peoples. many american and israeli organizations have tried to forge peace in the middle east. in the summer of 2013 israeli-palestinian peace talks continued under john kerry. secretary of state kerry: the best way to end the college is to reach peace, as i reach a negotiated solution that results in two states for two peoples. >> a few months later, israel made sacrifices for peace, but in the spring of 2014, the peace process ground to a halt with a palestinian unity government. this was still followed by the kidnap and murder of three israeli teenagers. after

come an exemplary leader, global citizen good friend who is celebrating 25 years at the helm of the ajccles off. we look forward to 25 more years. >> and to the audience at the conference and our distinguished guests here in washington including the foreign minister in bulgaria, it is great to be with you today as well. >> it's a pleasure to join all of you and to see so many familiar faces even if mine wasn't the one that you were hoping for. [laughter] the secretary very much wanted to be here today as i think many of you know he has great admiration for the work that you do to advocate the security of the israel and the human dignity of all. he may be off his feet for a short while but he's in the lead off the board. i have to tell you probably the smartest thing that we did in the state department is to sign up for the at&t family plan because the secretary has been burning up the phone lines night and day no time zone is safe. [laughter] but we are all looking forward to having him back in the office very, very soon. we are also very fortunate to have a next ordinary team at the st