Jan Fischer
JAN FISCHER does not sound at first glance to have the makings of an inspirational Czech leader. Whereas his predecessor, Vaclav Havel, was a leading writer whose brave opposition to the country’s Soviet era rulers led to his imprisonment, Fischer was a Communist Party member who came from the less-than-charismatic world of statistics. However, Fischer, who makes a virtue of his understated style, is being tipped by many to be the frontrunner for the presidential elections, the first round of which is to be held in the Czech Republic this weekend.
He has a distinguished recent past. Between 2009 and 2010 he was prime minister in a caretaker administration, earning him measured praise from, among others, French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who said. “He’s a person who does calm, intelligent and reasonable work.”
Fischer was born in 1951. His father, Otto was a Holocaust survivor. Although his mother, Vera, was Catholic, Fischer has always publicly associated with Judaism. He said: “My father brought me to the synagogue for Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and Purim. During Pesach, we didn’t organise a Seder but we did have matzah.”
Both his parents were statisticians. Indeed, statistics probably saved Otto’s life while he was in Auschwitz. He was recruited by the infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele to collect numerical data on Jewish families for the Nazis.
The young Fischer followed in his father’s footsteps both in terms of his profession and his affiliation with Judaism, which was influenced by Otto’s wartime experience. “It is a common tragedy and, based on it, I feel part of this community”.
Fischer joined the Communist Party in 1980. He reflects that this may not have been his greatest moment. “Joining the Communist Party is not something I’m proud of. I won’t say that it was a product of its time and that without party membership until 1989 I could not have done my job at the level I was qualified for. It was a concession to the former regime. A concession I still regret today.” However, he does not regret the years he spent as the head of the Czech Statistical Office. Even when he moved into the world of politics, he says that “I remained a statistician through my profession and in my heart.”
But when he was approached by former Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek in 2009 to establish an administration that would take the Czech Republic to the end of its stint of presidency of the EU, he did not think twice.
Since standing down as prime minister, Fischer has been living in London as vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, and his son, also called Jan, is studying at St Andrews University.
Fischer’s campaign for the presidency of his country will certainly have the support of the Israelis. He told the JTA: “I have no need to demonstrate my friendly attitude towards Israel because everyone is familiar with it.”
And his candidacy — he is thought to be among the two leading contenders in the elections due to be held today and Sunday — has excited Jews in Prague. Tomas Kraus, the chairman of the Czech Federation of Jewish Communities, said: “He’s like our Joe Lieberman [the former US vice-presidential candidate]. Whether or not you support him, you cannot help but be proud he has come this far.”
I wake up in New York, a city which has always had charm for me. I was born just across the Hudson River as my father was working on the Apollo space project: a source of great pride for me as I was growing up.
Today I am back with colleagues from Bicom, to build relationships with pro-Israel American organisations. But first I have a day off which I spend visiting the new 9/11 memorial. It features two waterfalls plunging into the seemingly bottomless depths of the foundations of the Twin Towers. It is a fitting and moving commemoration.
Sunday is a working day in Israel, so our Jerusalem office is busy. I convene a meeting to discuss priorities: completing work on the second edition of our journal Fathom, which is to feature an interview with Amos Oz, — commissioning analysis from our experts on the Israeli election, finalising plans for a delegation of journalists to Israel over the election and agreeing budgets. With so much to do, and finite resources, we need to spend every pound wisely.
We go from skyscraper to skyscraper. Betty Ehrenberg from the World Jewish Congress and Malcolm Hoenlein from the Conference of Presidents are both impressive. We discuss how the new Obama administration is shaping up — particularly in the light of Chuck Hagel’s nomination — and the implications for Israel and Europe. We finish with a UN tour courtesy of Ambassador Ron Prosor’s office. The building is all faded 1950s brutalism, but the politics inside can often descend into farce and be a hostile place for Israel. Nonetheless, the young Israeli diplomat acting as our guide, Yahav Lichner, recognises the positive work it does and has big ambitions for Israel — up to and including a future seat on the security council.
I continue my tour. The acronyms are endless: the ADL, AJC, JCPA, IAN, JFNA! Still, we have some very useful and practical meetings. At the Israel Action Network and the Jewish Council for Public affairs we swap case studies and lessons learnt in combatting delegitimisation. While there are very real differences between the US and British experiences, there are also shared elements and common threats. The meeting ends with a real sense of common purpose and a commitment to work together in the future.
I’m due in Washington DC to spend two days with Aipac, the world’s largest proIsrael organisation. The week so far has been constructive, a reminder that 2013 is going to be an eventful, even crucial year for Israel, and therefore for Bicom. As much as I love the States, I am looking forward to returning to the UK. Despite the rain, the shortness of our buildings and the smallness of our steaks, I am reminded of a line from a classic American film: “There’s no place like home.”
Dermot Kehoe is chief executive of Bicom