Mayor John Giles In Israel For A Week

US Mayors Bond with Israel   Eight American mayors took a tour of Israel, wrapping up a weeklong visit to Israel as guests of the AJC (American Jewish Committee) Project Interchange. They met with several of their Israeli counterparts as well as with Palestinian and Israeli Arab leaders in the private and public sectors.        The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com | 2017-09-15T01:46Z

"It’s been inspiring,” John Giles, the mayor of Mesa, Arizona, and seminar chairman of the trip, told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday as their trip came to an end.

"If they can do it here, we can do it there. Our challenges are smaller, similar but smaller, so it’s inspiring to see a nation dealing in such a positive way with the challenges.” 

According to reporter Sarah Levi's article, the tour included visits to Sderot, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Syrian border and Ziv Medical Center in Safed, which is treating Syrians wounded in their civil war.
“With all the gridlock in Washington, mayors are some of America’s top leaders,” AJC assistant executive director Daniel Elbaum said.

“It was very important to get a bipartisan group, and this is something we looked to get – both members of the Democrat and Republican parties and mayors of diverse areas of the nation. We really wanted mayors who are incredibly respected in their positions but also could possibly run for other offices in the future.”

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Mayor Stephanie Miner of Syracuse, New York, said she gained not only a meaningful personal experience but relevant infrastructure information that she hopefully can implement in her city.

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, who has been to Israel before, believes this trip helped strengthen the bond shared by the United States and Israel.

Link > http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/US-mayors-bond-with-Israel-505158

 

U.S. Mayors Visiting Israel, Exploring Areas for Bilateral Cooperation

PR Newswire

Sep. 11, 2017, 11:46 AM

JERUSALEM, Sept. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A bipartisan delegation of U.S. mayors is visiting Israel with AJC (American Jewish Committee) Project Interchange for intensive dialogue and briefings. The week-long educational seminar, sponsored entirely by AJC Project Interchange, is designed to further enhance U.S.-Israel relations at the important municipal level. The delegation is chaired by Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona.

The seminar is intended to provide these policymakers with a first-hand understanding of Israel, its vibrant democracy, diverse society, and regional challenges. They will meet with senior Israeli, Palestinian, Israeli Arab leaders, and other influential figures across the political and social spectrum.

Importantly, the mayors will meet with their Israeli counterparts to discuss best practices for their home communities on economic development, technology start-ups, to crime, at-risk youth, education, urban revitalization, and city administration. The delegation also will observe how Israel balances the preservation of its heritage with modern municipal management and the provision of social services.

Discussion topics will range from Israel’s strategic environment to

• education,
• economic development,
• city administration and technology

• best practices on technology start-UPS
• environmental and water management
• absorption and integration of immigrant communities.

All of these areas are issues facing the cities and communities the Mayors represent.

Link > http://projectinterchange.org/?seminars=1

In addition to visiting significant historical and cultural sites, the delegation will visit Tel Aviv, Israel's South (the border with Gaza) and North (the Syrian border), and Jerusalem, including the Old City. The delegation will also travel to Bethlehem and Ramallah to meet with Palestinian government and civic leaders.

The mayors will witness Arab-Jewish cooperation firsthand through organizational visits and will learn about Israel's humanitarian assistance, including aid provided at Israeli hospitals treating wounded individuals from the Syrian Civil War.

 

AJC Project Interchange:

For 35 years, AJC Project Interchange (American Jewish Committee) has brought nearly 6,000 influential figures to Israel from 100+ countries and all 50 U.S. states, offering broad exposure and first-hand understanding of the complex issues facing Israel and the region. AJC Project Interchange has led numerous delegations of Mayors to Israel from the U.S. and Europe. www.projectinterchange.org