Senator Klein, Governor Cuomo & NYS Unity Delegation Visit Israel

On Wednesday and Thursday, local Senator Jeff Klein, a descendent of Holocaust survivors, joined a New York State Unity Delegation led by Governor Cuomo on a visit to Israel to affirm the State of New York’s support for the nation, in light of the continued threat of attacks by Hamas.  The Senator was on his way back when the concert of the summer he sponsored was rocking Morris Park. (See the article on the Englebert Humperdink concert here.)

Details of the two days of the Unity visit are below.

The Delegation included:

• Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
• Senate Majority Co-Leader Dean Skelos
• Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Executive Chairman of Boston Properties, Publisher of the Daily News, and Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of U.S. News and World Report
• Kenneth Cole, CEO of Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
• Neil Cole, CEO, President and Chairman of the Board of Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
• Howard S. Maier, Chairman Emeritus of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County

On Wednesday, the group met with President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation in Israel and reaffirm New York’s solidarity.

” The United States has always been a strong ally of Israel and on many, many levels of New Yorkers we have many connections, family connections, cultural connections, historic connections so our relations go very deep, and I speak for all New Yorkers when I say we stand in solidarity with Israel,” said Govenor Cuomo.  “The fight that you fight is a fight against terror. Unfortunately, in New York we have had a rude awakening to the pain and suffering that terror can cause in 9/11. So we have a special sensitivity in our hearts for what you’re going through now.”

Later in the afternoon, the Delegation ate at Big Apple Pizza in downtown Jerusalem with New Yorkers studying at Hebrew University. For photos, visit here.

Later in the afternoon, Klein and Cuomo ate at Big Apple Pizza in downtown Jerusalem with New Yorkers studying at Hebrew University.

The Delegation visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall.  Photo via Gov. Cuomo (Flickr)

At dinner, the Delegation met with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro and Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat.

On Thursday morning, the Delegation met in Tel Aviv with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who briefed them on Operation “Protective Edge.” They then received a briefing on the capabilities and strategic importance of the Iron Dome from Lt. Colonel Peter Lerner next to an anti-missile battery in Ashdod. for audio of the Governor’s remarks following the briefing click here, and for a transcript of his remarks visit here.

The Delegation, joined by former Israeli President Shimon Peres, then met with combat soldiers and spoke with several soldiers who moved to Israel to serve, including soldiers from New York. For photos visit here, and for audio click here.

They then toured infiltration tunnels in Nahal Oz.

After the tour, the Delegation was greeted by children living at Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, located less than 2 miles away from the tunnels. For photos, click here.  Finally, Senator Klein, Governor Cuomo and others held a final briefing with the press. For audio, visit here, here, and here.