Regional Elected Officials Gather in White Plains to Show Support for Israel
Elected officials from Washington, New York State, Westchester County and White Plains, Greenburgh, Harrison and other local municipalities gathered on the steps of White Plains City Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday to express a bi-partisan stance of solidarity in the region for Israel.
Organized by NYS Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-White Plains) who said he had started gathering representatives together for the event on Monday, the rally began just after Israel began a ground invasion into the Gaza strip Thursday night after ceasefire talks did nothing to deescalate the air war that had ensued for 10 days.
The rhetoric was strong and forceful, positing a fierce support for Israel and expressing that country’s complete right to protect itself from the ongoing onslaught of terrorism committed by Hamas.
The use by Hamas of their own Palestinian people as human shields was referred to by several of the speakers.
“My heart is with the people of Israel,” said Buchwald. “It saddens me that innocent families are once again being subjected to unconscionable acts of violence. I wholeheartedly support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks, and I pray that this conflict soon comes to an end.”
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, whose daughter currently lives and works in Jerusalem, said she was concerned but supported her daughter’s decision to live in Israel.
“The loss of innocent life on both sides is deplorable,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) representing a unified stance from Congress. Hamas is responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence, and is putting not only innocent Israelis at risk but ruthlessly using Palestinian civilians as shields. Israel, the only democracy in the region and our steadfast ally, has every right to defend innocent civilians under terrorist threat from the onslaught of Hamas’ rockets just as the United States would respond were we here in the Lower Hudson Valley under constant attack. Continued U.S. support for Israel’s defense is critical, and a Palestinian “unity government” that includes the terrorist group Hamas must not receive U.S. assistance.”
Congressman Eliot Engel, spoke with similar sentiments. “Hamas is a terrorist organization whose sole purpose is to destroy Israel. The Hamas rockets that have been fired into Israel have forced the hand of the Israeli people, who have a right to defend themselves against the threat of terror,” he said.
Present and showing their support were: Democratic Conference Leader Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins; State Senator George Latimer; State Assemblymembers Sandy Galef and Amy Paulin; Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett; Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Michael Kaplowitz; Vice-Chairman of the Board of Legislators James Maisano; County Legislators Benjamin Boykin, Peter B. Harckham, Catherine Borgia, Catherine Parker and Alfreda Williams; Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni; White Plains Mayor Tom Roach; Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner; Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, Harrison Town Board Member Marlane Amelio; Pound Ridge Town Board Member Daniel S. Paschkes; White Plains Councilman Dennis Krolian, Special Assistant for Community Affairs in Governor Cuomo’s Office David Lobl; Representatives from the offices of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano; President of the Westchester Jewish Council Paul B. Warhit; Westchester Regional Chair of the UJA-Federation of New York Martine Fleishman; and New York Region Assistant Director of the Anti-Defamation League Michael Arlen, and Reverend Dr. Gregory Robeson Smith of Mt. Hope AME Zion Church, who read the Prayer of St. Francis.
A statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo was read, expressing his support of Israel. “At a time of upheaval across the Middle East, Israel remains a bulwark of democracy and a beacon of courage and freedom. We strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself. As New Yorkers, we have experienced global terrorism firsthand. At my direction, New York’s Department of Financial Services has aggressively cracked down on institutions that bankroll terrorist organizations. And we will continue to work closely with our ally Israel to fight global terrorism,” a portion of Cuomo’s statement read.
