#KKLJNF: Israel’s largest green organization joins efforts to ease refugee crisis in Europe

In Brussels, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) World Chairman Danny Atar has revealed that his organization has responded to a major European country's address for help and will, at a first stage, provide professional management services to to a forest rehabilitation project.

In order to help alleviate the refugee crisis in Europe, KKL-JNF, Israel's largest green organization and the oldest green organization in the world, will provide employment for thousands of Syrian refugees and other refugees who are currently living in Europe and are unemployed by overseeing forest rehabilitation activities in a major refugee absorbing country.

At a meeting with Jewish community leaders in Brussels on Monday (16 May), KKL-JNF World Chairman, Danny Atar revealed that KKL-JNF has responded to a major European country's address for help and will, at a first stage, provide professional management services to a forest rehabilitation project near one of Europe's capital cities.

"Israel serves as the defensive front line of the Western world against fundamentalist Islamic terrorism," said Chairman Atar to the Jewish leaders, and stressed that "KKL- JNF has a proven track record of sustainable development that integrates environmental improvement with improving the quality of life of the population in general and immigrant populations and refugees in particular’.’

He added: ‘’We are proud to provide our unique knowledge – which is all blue and white, in order to improve the European and refugees' quality of life as well as the environment ".

Atar emphasized that ‘’this project and others like it, are the Israeli answer to the BDS (Boycott-DivestmentSanctions) movement and the delegitimization of Israel. Those who promote hate and strife will continue to demonstrate against Israel and, subsequently, against all Western European values. However, we – KKL-JNF and the State of Israel - will continue creating more solutions that will benefit both - the refugees who escaped terror in their own countries and their hosts, the European peoples".

The KKL-JNF Chairman also mentioned that KKL- JNF is currently examining additional projects that may also prevent the worsening of the refugee crisis in Europe, as well as create employment through sustainable projects in other countries.  He noted that he came to Belgium in order to strengthen the spirit of the local Jewish community in the wake of the horrific terror attacks of last March. After meeting with representatives of youth movements in Belgium and speaking to community leaders, he said he is confident in the strength of the communities and their ties to Judaism and Israel - as a source of inspiration for dealing intelligently and vigorously with the challenges Europe had to face in recent years.

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