Moshe Kantor has been re-elected to lead the pan-European body after being removed from EU sanctions list
Moshe (Vyacheslav) Kantor, a Russian businessman and philanthropist, has been overwhelmingly voted back in as president of the European Jewish Congress (EJC) with almost two-thirds of the vote. The election took place at a general assembly in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Kantor, who previously held the EJC presidency from 2007 to 2022, had to step down during his fourth term after being placed on several international sanctions lists following the Ukraine conflict. After the European Union and Switzerland removed Kantor from their sanctions lists earlier this year, he re-entered the race and won against Ariel Muzicant of Austria, the interim president.
Kantor, who also has British and Israeli citizenship, stressed the urgency of his return due to rising antisemitism and increased polarization in Europe.
Kantor told delegates that the current situation is not only a threat to Jewish communities but also to the very foundation of European democracies. He added that if unchecked, this growing hatred will erode the social fabric of societies, with increased polarization as the extremes gain strength and moderation is pushed aside.
Kantor also thanked Muzicant for his devoted leadership during the recent difficult years and called for renewed unity across the Jewish diaspora.
Muzicant had advised Kantor against running again because he remains on some national sanctions lists, including those of the UK, Poland, and Estonia. However, Kantor’s supporters maintained that he was the most experienced and effective candidate to lead the organization.
Forbes estimates Kantor’s net worth at $9.5 billion, largely from his leadership of Acron, a major Russian fertilizer producer. In addition to his EJC role, Kantor is known for his decades of philanthropic and civic work. He founded the World Holocaust Forum and previously served on the boards of Yad Vashem and Tel Aviv University. He also led the Russian Jewish Congress from 2005 to 2009 and founded the European Jewish Fund.
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