On September 24, Ashkelon (Israel) hosted a meeting of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress (WJC). The meeting brought together more than 130 delegates and observers representing WJC affiliated communities worldwide and international Jewish organisations. The meeting was attended by Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress and a member of the WJC Steering Committee . Keynote speakers at the meeting were Ronald Lauder (WJC President), Mathew Bronfman (Chair of the Governing Board), and other WJC senior officials .
Issues on the agenda included strategies to halt the Iranian nuclear program and address the threat posed by Iran. The meeting also debated the issue of delegitimization aimed at Israel as Jewish State, and discussed youth policy.

The Steering Committee held a working meeting with representatives of kibbutzim, mayors of towns in the Ashkelon region, and Gabi Ashkenazi, the Chief of the General Staff in the Israel Defense Forces.

The next meeting of the WJC Governing Board is set to take place in January 2009. The tentative venue for the meeting is New York.