Vallone Meets With Israeli Official At City Hall

"Countries have a right to defend themselves from those that desire nothing more than to kill their citizens..." Taking a dip into international relations, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. last week met with Israeli official Shaul Goldstein at City Hall to discuss issues such as preventing attacks and creating stability in the part of the world where Goldstein serves as mayor of an Israeli city.

Vallone (D-Astoria), had met Goldstein while touring Israel two summers ago and had then encouraged him to visit New York City. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York and its Chief Executive, Michael Miller, organized the trips that brought Vallone and Goldstein together to exchange their ideas.

Goldstein is mayor of the Regional Council of Gush Etzion, a collection of municipalities and settlements on the southern border of the West Bank.

Vallone, who serves as chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said of the situation in Israel and his meeting with Goldstein, "Countries have a right to defend themselves from those that desire nothing more than to kill their citizens. If that means building a fence to stop the flow of terrorists into a region, then I'll help them pound the fence posts in."

The lawmaker added, "My friend Mr. Goldstein understands the threat he faces...I'm glad to know him and learn from each other about ways to protect our countries."

Vallone explained that the first attempt by Jews to settle Gush Etzion took place about 79 years ago, in 1972. Since then, the region has been at the center of Arab and Israeli tensions.

Palestinian protesters forced settlers to flee on several occasions, during the first half of the 20th century. From 1949 to 1967, Jordan occupied the area. Israel regained control of the Etzion region following the Six-Day War, Vallone continude, and established new settlements that have continued to thrive over the past three decades. Today, the Israeli population in the area approaches 20,000 residents.

Vallone said Goldstein's region governs several communities in still highly volatile areas. In recent years, he said, the Israeli Security Department has built and paved 60 kilometers of security roads, erected still more security fencing, added and renovated bright lighting around communities and installed electric gates at the entrance to each community, according to a Web site.

The Security Department, Vallone said, provides each community with a security jeep furnished with essential lighting, communications and first-aid systems. The fences and other security measures have greatly reduced the number of suicide bombings in this area and throughout Israel, by some estimates as much as 90 percent, according to the Jewish Anti Defamation League.

Goldstein told Vallone that although the Regional Council works with the national Israeli government, the cost of their extraordinary emergency and security measures has fallen mostly on local authorities and citizens. The province has been able to maintain high security standards by soliciting private donations from benefactors around the world. For more information, visit www.gush-etzion.org.il.

Vallone said, "I encourage anyone to help these people defend themselves against the terrible threat of terrorism that plagues their daily lives."