Israelis, Egyptians and Americans of all faiths, gathered in Beverly Hills recently to celebrate the enduring peace between Egypt and Israel.

Ezra Friedlander, Lamia Mekhemar, ambassador of Egypt, and H.E. Eitan Weiss, consul general of Israel, were among the speakers. (photo courtesy of the Friedlander Group)

The night was headlined by a lineup of speakers including Ambassador Lamia Mekhemar, the consul general of Egypt, and Eitan Weiss, the acting consul general of Israel in Los Angeles.

The event was organized by members of the Anwar Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Commission. This group also led the effort for Congress to pass legislation to posthumously award the late Egyptian resident, Anwar Sadat, with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress.

Leading the charge was commission founder and chairman, Ezra Friedlander, CEO of the Friedlander Group, who worked with members of congress for years to obtain their support. On Dec. 13, 2018, President Donald Trump signed legislation making this medal a reality.

Mekhemar noted fondly in her speech that after 40 years of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, the agreement has not once been broken. A true testament to the lasting peace between the two nations.

Weiss commended Egypt’s swift response in sending a squadron of fire-fighting helicopters to assist Israel in battling their recent wave of wildfires.

Friedlander reminded the event’s attendees that this peace was only possible because Sadat took the bold and courageous step to visit Jerusalem and make peace with Israel; a decision that ultimately cost him his life, but saved countless others.

The Congressional Gold Medal will be presented to the family of Sadat and representatives of the Egyptian government at a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C., later this year.