Security Experts Address Hill Staff on Israeli Expertise

The homeland security directors for California and New Mexico addressed more than 30 congressional staffers and other homeland security officials about their recent trip to Israel and the lessons that America can learn from the Jewish state’s decades-long experience fighting terrorism. Speaking at an American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF) briefing about their AIEF-sponsored trip to Israel, Matthew Bettenhausen, homeland security advisor to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tim Manning, homeland security advisor to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, discussed the security techniques they learned from Israel and the inspiration they gained from Israelis’ fortitude in the face of brutal terrorist attacks. The two speakers also addressed the need for the United States to apply Israeli practices to its own counter-terrorism efforts and to emulate Israel’s constant vigilance in detecting potential threats.

Israeli Professor Addresses Hill Staff on U.N.’s Failures

A leading Israeli political scientist addressed some 35 congressional staffers about the United Nations’ obsession with attacking Israel as it ignores human rights abuses throughout the world. Speaking at an American Israel Education Foundation briefing, Dr. Avi Beker, currently a visiting professor in the Department of Government at Georgetown University, traced the history of the U.N. and the development of its increasingly radical animus toward Israel, noting that the organization needs systemic and comprehensive reform in order to serve a useful role in preventing wars and promoting human rights. Dr. Beker also noted the failure of the recently created U.N. Human Rights Council, which replaced the discredited U.N. Human Rights Commission, to devote any serious attention to acts of genocide in various countries rather than engage in ad hominem attacks against the Jewish state. Dr. Beker previously served as a member of the Israeli mission to the U.N. from 1977 to 1982 and played key roles in major diplomatic efforts as Secretary General (CEO) of the World Jewish Congress.

Congressmen, Administration Officials Speak to AIPAC

Eighty of AIPAC's top activists, from across the country, gathered in Washington, D.C. for an advanced advocacy seminar and intensive lobbying workshops. Participants also held a series of high-level meetings with members of Congress and the administration. The three-day program featured briefings by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and David Vitter (R-LA), Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA) and Mike Pence (R-IN), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy Mark Kimmitt, former CIA Director James Woolsey and a number of other current and former government officials. Members also went to Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress on issues affecting the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Hispanic Leaders, Homeland Security Directors Visit Israel

Seventeen Hispanic community leaders and 13 state-level homeland security directors recently participated in AIEF-sponsored missions to Israel. These intensive educational trips featured high-level briefings with Israeli and Palestinian government officials, discussions with Knesset members and meetings with leading academics. Participants on the Hispanic outreach mission had the opportunity to tour holy sites in Jerusalem, visit an immigration absorption center and meet with social service providers. Homeland security participants met with Israeli national security experts in an effort to gain insight into Israel’s cutting edge techniques in its fight against terrorism. "It is so interesting to be here, to see firsthand how they protect their borders, infrastructure, power plants and water supply," said Matt Bettenhausen, California's homeland security director and an AIEF mission participant. "We already cooperate on a lot of strategic issues, so it makes sense that we look to Israel when it comes to homeland security because of the terrorism that they’ve had to deal with."