| ECI Executive director Rijk van Dam |
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Rijk van Dam, (52), Executive Director of the European Coalition for Israel (member of the European Parliament 1997-2004) Studied fiscal law (Univ. of Leiden), was manager Dutch IRS and senior assistant in Dutch Parliament; chaired group in Provincial Parliament . Married to Jenny, one daughter (23), two sons (21 and 16). Member of the E.P. 1997-2004, representing Christian coalition, vice-chairman of EP-committee Reg. Policy, Transport en Tourism and member of committee for Budget-control. Member of EP’s permanent delegation for Israel. First visit to the state of Israel 1996 (11 days, Jaffa-Haifa-Tiberias-Jerusalem). Three visits to Israel as a member of the EP-delegation: Spring 2000, Spring 2003, Spring 2004. European speaker at the 1st Jerusalem Summit (Oct. 2003). Good friend of Israels minister for Tourism, Benny Elon and MK Yuri Shtern. Initiated with 4 colleagues written declaration of the EP (340 signatories) for sustained remembrance of the Holocaust, which the delegation handed over to the chairman of Yad Vashem in 2000. Repeatedly questioned the European Commission about Palestinian schoolbooks in relation to E.U.’s major sponsorship to the Palestinian Authority. Tabled amendments both to discharge 2000 and 2001 to stop funding hate and anti-semitism in any form. Amendment 2001 got a majority in the Eur. Parliament. Faciliated initiatives for European Coalition for Israel and EMEIS-monthly. Attended several times the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. especially to network for Israel (contact Senators and Members of Congress). Invited as guest of honour to the Annual Conference of AIPAC 15-18 May 2004 (www.aipac.com), spoke after Senator Lieberman (4000 people). From 1st October 2004 Director of the European Coalition for Israel, initiative of several Christian organisations for Israel.
Fax. +31 342 401861 |