A bipartisan delegation of prominent American state officials is visiting Israel
for intensive dialogue and briefings this week through Project Interchange, an educational institute of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
The officials, mainly State House and Senate leaders, represent New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Hawaii. Participants include New York State Senator Eric Adams, who represents Brooklyn neighborhoods, and who co-founded an advocacy group for African-American police officers during his 22-year career with the New York Police Department prior to election; Justice Yvette McGee Brown, the first African-American woman to serve as a supreme court justice in the State of Ohio; and Marcus R. Oshiro, Hawaii State representative and chairman of the House Finance Committee in the Hawaii State Legislature, named by Hawaii Business Magazine as one of “20 People to Watch Over the Next Two Decades.”
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The seminar "is intended to provide these policymakers with a first-hand understanding of Israel, its rich and dynamic society, and often-times complicated reality," the institute said in a press release. The trip includes meetings with influential figures across Israel's political and social spectrum, including senior Israeli, Palestinian,
and Israeli Arab
leaders.
The delegation will traverse much of Israel, including Jerusalem,
Tel Aviv,
the northern border, the Dead Sea
and Sderot
for a first-hand look at Israel "beyond-the-headlines."
Discussion topics will range from Israel's strategic environment to the country's position as a worldwide high tech leader, to sharing best practices on fostering economic development and absorption and integration of immigrant and minority communities. Several sessions dealing with diversity issues are on the agenda, including Israeli high-tech initiatives that foster effective coexistence between Arabs and Jews.
Sam Witkin, executive director of Project Interchange noted, “We are tremendously pleased to host this delegation of prominent American state officials. These officials represent a diverse set of states and constituencies from across the United States, but they share a common interest in job creation, high tech innovation, and immigrant issues. As these are key priorities for Israel as well, we hope participants will return home with a better sense of the similarities between their communities and those in Israel.”
Justice Yvette McGee Brown of the Ohio Supreme Court said, "I am excited to be joining this delegation to learn more about the economic and political climate of Israel. Technology makes our world smaller every day, so I always welcome the opportunity to learn from other leaders and discuss challenges. With all the changes going on in the Middle East, this is an incredible opportunity to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leadership.”
New York State Senator Eric Adams noted, "I look forward to visiting Israel in order to gain an extensive understanding of Israel's political, social, and cultural structures."
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