JERUSALEM (JTA) — B. Daniel Diker, a foreign policy and media expert, was nominated to serve as secretary general of the World Jewish Congress.
The WJC Executive Committee endorsed Diker on Tuesday to succeed Michael Schneider, who will step down in June at the WJC governing board meeting in Jerusalem, the organization announced.
Diker has served as WJC’s director for strategic affairs since May and since early 2009 as Middle East adviser on policy and diplomacy.
He comes to the WJC following nearly 10 years at the Jerusalem Center of Public Affairs, where he served in a variety of roles, including as director of its Institute for Contemporary Affairs — the center’s public diplomacy institute. At the JCPA, Diker produced and edited several books on the Iranian nuclear threat and Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, as well as on Israeli defense and national security issues.
Diker is a former Knesset affairs correspondent for Israel’s Channel 1 English television service. He also served as a commentator on international news networks covering Middle East affairs and U.S.-Israel relations.
“Dan brings great energy, vision and political will to help forge new directions for the WJC and help strengthen the bond of Jewish communities worldwide and fortify their relationship with the State of Israel,” WJC President Ronald Lauder said in a statement.
