Three authorities on Jerusalem – Ayala Londner, Director of Business Development, the Jerusalem Development Authority; Yaakov Livne, Deputy Director-General for Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador (Ret) Ran Ichay, Head of research at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy and Former Director-General of the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs – discussed the future of the city in a panel entitled “One City, Many Voices, 60 Years of Jerusalem's Growth,” at the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference on Thursday.
Livne said diplomacy's purpose is to tell a nation’s story. In that framework, he explained, Israel's unique story- the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people- needs to be told. “People say that we are strangers to this place. People say that Jerusalem cannot be the capital of the Jewish people,” he said. “Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for more than 3,000 years. We need to remind the world that today, since the Jewish people have returned to Jerusalem, everyone who wants to pray at the holy sites may do so freely,” adding that next year, the city will be celebrating 60 years since the liberation of the city in 1967.
Ichay said Jerusalem needs greater promotion and exposure to a global audience. To that end, he explained, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and the Union of Chambers of Commerce have launched a program that brings foreign diplomats to the city to learn more about its heritage and history. Both Livne and Ichay noted the growing number of countries with embassies in Jerusalem and expressed hope that more will follow suit.
Londner pointed out that the city is much more than a historical and religious symbol. In her role at the Jerusalem Development Authority, she is advancing the city’s innovation district, which includes Hebrew University, the Lev Academic Center, the Azrieli Engineering College, and Shari Tzedek Medical Center, which are collaborating to promote interdisciplinary research and work with industry. “I hope that many companies and investments will come to Jerusalem and enjoy the amazing talent that we have here in the city.”
This article was written in collaboration with the Jerusalem Municipality