UJIA Manchester Annual Dinner - Colonel Richard Kemp and Ambassador Dan Gillerman

UJIA Manchester are pleased to announce that Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, will be honoured with a special award at their annual dinner on Monday 7th December for his help and support to the people of Israel and the Jewish Community.

Colonel Richard Kemp, CBE, served in the British Army from 1977 - 2006. He was Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, an infantry battalion Commanding Officer, worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee and completed 14 operational tours of duty around the globe.

In October 2009, Kemp made a presentation to the UN Human Rights Council in response to the introduction of the Goldstone report: "I don't think there has ever been a time in the history of warfare when any army has made more efforts to reduce civilian casualties and deaths of innocent people than the IDF is doing today in Gaza".

UJIA Manchester looks forward to seeing you all with us awarding Colonel Kemp and welcoming Israel's ambassador to the UN Mr. Dan Gillerman.

Dan Gillerman who was born in 1944 in the British Mandate of Palestine) was Israel's 13th Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He was appointed in July 2002 and assumed his post on January 1, 2003, serving through 2008. He was educated at Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Gillerman served as the CEO of several Israeli companies, Chairman of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, member of the board of the First International Bank of Israel and Director of Bank Leumi and the Bank of Israel. He also served on the Prime Minister's National Economic and Social Council, the President's Committee of the Coordinating Council of Israel's Economic Organizations, as Chairman of the Israel-British Business Council, and as member of the executive board of the International Chamber of Commerce of the World Business Organization.

Gillerman has played a prominent role in helping steer Israel towards economic liberalization and a free market economy. He is actively engaged in the economic aspects of the peace process and has engaged Palestinian and other Arab leaders in an attempt to further economic cooperation within the region.

On June 14, 2005, he was elected to the position of Vice-President of the 60th UN General Assembly. The last Israeli to hold this position was UN envoy Abba Eban in 1952. Israel's candidacy was put forward by the United Nations Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). In this position, Gillerman played a central role during the initial negotiation stages of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

For further information and the location of the event please contact:

Ilana Ray
Regional Director
Tel: 0161 740 1825 Ext 1
Fax: 0161 740 7407
Email: ilana.ray@ujia.org