Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was the keynote speaker at last night’s annual UJIA dinner.

The event was attended by 350 guests and was held at Kensington Palace. Naftali Bennet also received an award for his contribution to the Israel-diaspora relationship, presented by JC editor Jake Wallis Simons.

The dinner came as UJIA announced a new campaign with a focus on promoting a sense of belonging to their Jewish heritage among young British Jews through Israel engagement and visits to Israel.

UJIA chairman Louise Jacobs said: “We are so thrilled to have been able to hold an annual dinner for the first time in years.

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Bennett with JC editor Jake Wallis Simons at the UJIA dinner (Photo: Blake Ezra)

"We are grateful to our incredible supporters who tonight made a commitment to the future of our community and the young people who will shape it.”

The dinner is estimated to have raised in the region of £1 million, with the money going towards much needed funds to ensure that young British Jews could take part in educational programmes in Israel.

In her appeal speech, UJIA CEO Mandie Winston noted that “one in six participants in teen summer tours required significant financial assistance this summer”.

It comes after Bennett made his first major intervention into Israel’s political crisis this week warning of the dangers of a “radical, extremist government” and calling for a return of the tolerance and compromise that characterised his time in power.