David Miliband hosts UJIA Patrons

Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon David Miliband, welcomed 160 UJIA Patrons to the Foreign Office for the Annual UJIA Patrons Dinner, which was officiated by UJIA Patrons Chairman and UJIA Vice-Chairman Geoffrey Ognall.

David Miliband was warmly introduced by UJIA President, Sir Trevor Chinn CVO, who recalled the time they spent together in Israel visiting Gap Year students, and described the guest of honour as a "clever and courageous Foreign Secretary."

Mr. Miliband started by saying it was "a privilege to be amongst friends," and was quick to give thought to the families of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev saying, "The wait must have been agonising, and now the wait is over but the agony is growing." Also firmly in his mind was Gilad Shalit and his family.
Guests heard how it was in the very same building, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, that the Balfour Declaration was negotiated. Referring to nations being built from "toil and graft" he reinforced that it takes "leadership". He continued, "Problems are not solved by Government alone, they also need unifying spirit and mass mobilisation of good will. The spirit of UJIA is to unite people in common cause."

Looking through UJIA's Annual Review he commented that, "the whole of Britain can take inspiration from UJIA, not just the Jewish community." He described UJIA as, "an organisation with an inclusive vision of Zionism." An organisation, "not scared to put itself in danger and teaches us that it is Israel which breathes new life into Jewish people."

Like Sir Trevor, he too told of the time he spent in Israel having breakfast with British Gap Year participants, describing it as forming a memorable part of his first year as Foreign Secretary.

He finished by proudly telling his audience that last December he hosted the Foreign Office's first Chanukah party. Quite an achievement when told they have been in official residency since the reign of Henry VIII. One security guard was quick to tell Mr. Miliband that is was the happiest event he had seen in the building in 27 years.

He finished with the following toast, "It is happiness and optimism that lives at the heart of Jewish people and the state of Israel and is the mission of UJIA, and I toast the continued success and growth of that optimism."

UJIA Chairman Mick Davis gave thanks to Mr. Miliband and spoke of his appreciation of UJIA's Patrons. Referring back to the Salute to Israel celebration he shared his belief that Jewish identity is a healthy way of acknowledging Israel and is a legacy Jewish parents must leave their children. He concluded by stating it is these needs that must to be met "today, tomorrow and forever."

View photos from the event click here