Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Image by Getty Images

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not confirmed to address the Jewish Federations of North America annual General Assembly next month, a rarity for the signature Jewish community event.

“The leadership of the State of Israel is always represented at Jewish Federations’ annual conference,” JFNA spokeswoman Rebecca Dinar said Sunday in a statement to JTA. “And, as is our practice, the prime minister is always invited. However, because Prime Minister Netanyahu was just in the United States six weeks ago for the United Nation’s General Assembly, and because of the distance from Israel to Los Angeles, he was understandably unable to fit it into his schedule this year. This does not preclude the possibility of a live satellite or video message from him, as he’s done in the past, and that option is under discussion.”

This year’s General Assembly, gathering in every major Jewish organizations and representatives from virtually every Jewish community, is taking place in Los Angeles from Nov. 12-14; lack of confirmation of even a pre-recorded video address from the prime minister this close to the event is unusual.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Tensions between Netanyahu and the U.S. Jewish community have sharpened in recent months in the wake of his freeze of a plan to guarantee access to the Western Wall to the broad spectrum of Jewish religious streams.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who, prior to his presidency, had tense relations with non-Orthodox Jews, is scheduled to speak in person at the conference. Rivlin has endeavored to reach out to non-Orthodox streams since he assumed the presidency in 2014.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount