Cohen, Engel affirm support of Israel at heated moment

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As controversy simmered over this week’s visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress — and not the White House — local officials voiced their support of Israel.

Councilman Andrew Cohen recently returned from a weeklong trip with other City Council members to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other parts of the Middle Eastern country.

“It was beautiful,” Mr. Cohen said after flying home on Feb. 22. “We met with such a varied spectrum of people in Israeli society. It was really a great trip.”

“My constituents have such a strong relationship with Israel,” he continued. “That’s why I thought the trip was important in the first place. I think it does give me a greater sensitivity to the impact those issues have on my constituents.”

The delegation of 14 total council members met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Aluf Benn, the editor-in-chief of the Haaretz newspaper, and other members of civil society. 

The visit came as Israel prepared for national elections.

“Meeting people was very interesting,” Mr. Cohen said. “Most people seem to view the elections through the paradigm of the peace process. What will be the impact of the peace process on the elections?”

 

Electioneering?

 

As Mr. Netanyahu came to Washington, D.C., critics including the Jewish-American lobby J Street accused the Israeli prime minister of using the visit to score political points back home. Recent weeks have seen numerous reports describing relations between Mr. Netanyahu and President Barack Obama as deteriorating, with the visiting leader allegedly snubbing the president because of his stance on Iran’s nuclear program.

Riverdale’s Rep. Eliot Engel, one of Congress’ most vocal supporters of Israel, rejected that notion. 

“I think it’s a tempest in a teapot,” he said in a phone interview. “I don’t care who doesn’t like who. What I care about is the U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong, that Israel continue to have bipartisan congressional support.”

Andrew Cohen, Eliot Engel, Israel, Cuba, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shant Shahrigian
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