Meretz USA congratulates Meretz MK Chaim Oron on his election as Meretz party leader

March 20, 2008

Dear Jumas,

On behalf of Meretz USA, we are delighted to congratulate you on your election as the new chairman of the Meretz party in Israel. 

The Meretz party has had a tradition of wonderful, courageous leaders - Shulamit Aloni, Yossi Sarid, and Yossi Beilin - who have led the way in Israel, suggesting creative and farsighted solutions to the many challenges that the country faces, both domestically and its relations with its neighbors and with the broader Arab and Islamic worlds.

We are confident that your leadership of the party will be no less distinguished, no less marked by the commitment, integrity and vision needed to address the issues of peace and security, civil and human rights, social justice, religious pluralism, and the health of the environment.

We are deeply grateful to Yossi Beilin for his leadership of the party over the past four years and for the abundant time he has always made for Meretz USA.  We also wish to congratulate your colleagues, Ran Cohen and Zehava Gal-On, for the hard-fought but dignified campaigns that they have run over the past few months.

We look forward to seeing you soon and to cooperating through the World Union of Meretz to realize our shared goals for Israel and the Jewish people.

With best wishes and B'hatzlacha,

Larry Lerner                          Harold M. Shapiro                                  Ron Skolnik

President                               Honorary Life President                           Executive Director