46.9 F
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

NY Gov Cuomo Plans Trip to Israel

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

Governor of the State of New York Andrew Cuomo
Governor of the State of New York Andrew Cuomo
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he is planning a trip to Israel in the next few months, according to sources. This will be the Governor’s first visit to Israel since 2002. Sources say that New Yorker’s may be paying the tab for Cuomo’s Israel excursion; it will be billed as an expedition to “drum up business” for the state.

This trip to Israel will be Cuomo’s first international outing, since taking office as governor of New York in 2011. The trip will also make Cuomo the first of the major U.S. politicians dating to step foot in the area since recent escalations of Hamas attacks has put the nation on high security alert.

This trip is reminiscent of Cuomo’s 48-hour solidarity visit in 2002, during his first run for governor. The expedition came after seven people, including five Americans, were killed at the Frank Sinatra pavilion by a terrorist attack. In a speech given at the site of the massacre, Cuomo said, “Your fight against terror is our fight against terror. The rain of terror Israel has experienced all these years is no longer an intellectual concept for New Yorkers. We all got a taste of terror on 9/11, and learned what it’s like to live with terror and how difficult it is to fight it.”

He continued, “It is in times of crisis that you need your friends, and now is when it is important to travel to Israel. We will be with you forever.” During that trip Cuomo made is pro-Israel stance evident when he expressed that Israel “has a bona fide claim” to Judea-Samaria-Gaza; he added, “Why do we call this territory ‘occupied territory’? Why is it not ‘disputed territory’? The term occupied territory has an implicit presumption of ownership.”

Now Cuomo shows his support again, as Israel faces pressure from the boycott-divestment-sanctions movement that has gained some momentum, as well as members of Cuomo’s own Democratic Party urging the recognition of Palestine as part of a two-state solution.

The timing of Cuomo’s visit has some speculating that it could be part of a larger strategy ultimately aimed at run for the White House in 2016; but insiders say it is much too early to comment on the possibility. Regardless of any additional motives, the Governor of New York, the state with the largest population of American Jews, visiting Israel at such a critical time sends an unmistakably positive message of support and unity to Israelis.

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -