Jerusalem, Israel (January 20, 2026) – The Government of Israel will present its annual Award of Honor for the Fight Against Antisemitism to Senior Counsel Leo Terrell, Chair of the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. In addition, a special Award of Honor in memory of the late Charlie Kirk will be presented to his personal pastor, Rob McCoy, in recognition of his principled and courageous stand for truth, Israel, and the fight against antisemitism.
Both awards will be presented at a special gala on Monday, January 26, at the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma), by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli.
The gala will inaugurate the Second International Conference on Combating Antisemitism, titled “Generation of Truth,” initiated by Minister Chikli and taking place January 26–27, 2026, in Jerusalem, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The conference will bring together senior Israeli political leaders and dozens of international participants.
Since October 7, the Trump administration has taken a firm and consistent stance against antisemitism and in support of Israel’s right to defend itself. Senior Counsel Terrell is being honored for his determined and sustained efforts to confront the growing wave of antisemitism in the United States, particularly on university campuses. In his role as head of the Department of Justice Antisemitism Task Force, he has worked tirelessly to hold academic institutions and their leadership accountable when they have failed to adequately address antisemitism within their communities and spaces.
“Senior Counsel Terrell’s leadership and moral clarity have produced tangible, on-the-ground impact and earned him broad recognition among Jewish communities, elected officials, and public figures in the United States and around the world,” said Minister Chikli. “This award honors those who refuse to remain silent and who choose to stand with the Jewish people, with Israel, and with truth.”
Charlie Kirk was a prominent voice in the global fight against antisemitism and a steadfast supporter of Israel. Through his leadership of Turning Point USA and his public advocacy, he spoke out forcefully against antisemitic rhetoric and actions and consistently challenged efforts to delegitimize the state of Israel. The award presented to Pastor Rob McCoy honors Kirk’s enduring legacy and his unwavering commitment to standing with the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
The conference will feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, and closed-door forums aimed at developing tools and strengthening international cooperation to combat antisemitism. It will focus on three central manifestations of contemporary antisemitism:
1) Violent Islamist antisemitism;
2) Progressive antisemitism that employs human-rights language to delegitimize Israel and exclude Jews from public life; and
3) Far-right antisemitism, which has intensified and gained renewed legitimacy in recent years.
Confirmed international participants include Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Sebastian Kurz, former Chancellor of Austria; Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia; Mariano Cúneo Libarona, Minister of Justice of Argentina; Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazilian senator and presidential candidate; and Eduardo Bolsonaro, member of Brazil’s Congress, alongside senior representatives from Europe, Latin America, and North America. Participating countries include Albania, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
Minister Chikli added:
“Over the past year, antisemitism has crossed a red line, with Jews murdered around the world simply for being Jewish. This conference aims to build an international coalition that understands antisemitism is a murderous ideology threatening the entire free world. It is time to move from defense to offense.”
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