Corzine, Holt promote U.S.-Israel relations

“I think that it is absolutely vital that we have voices that step up and say the reasons to be the closest of allies [with Israel],” Corzine said at the dinner, which was held at Prospect House and hosted 75 attendees.

He highlighted the New Jersey-Israel Commission as evidence of the economic link between the state and the country. He also called supporting Israel a moral duty.

Holt emphasized the historical connection between the United States and Israel, telling the story of President Harry Truman’s recognition of Israel just 11 minutes after the country’s official founding in 1948.

“My visits to Israel have only reinforced my conviction ... that Israel not only has a right to defend itself, but a need to defend itself,” Holt said.

Kaplan told the story behind his own support of Israel and encouraged the students in attendance to engage in future support of Israel.

Kaplan said, that in supporting Israel, “You’re not only saving lives, you’re making America stronger.”

Israeli Consul for Public Affairs Sharon Regev addressed the audience, providing an Israeli opinion on the country’s relationship with the United States. She spoke about the strides that Israel had made during its 60 years in growing from an agricultural nation to a technologically based economy and emphasized the dangers facing Israel, including Hamas and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“The state of Israel espouses the same values that command respect in the United States,” Regev said.

Former USG president Rob Biederman ’08 also spoke, specifically addressing the students in the audience. He said that 4,200 supporters of Israel die each day and that it was the duty of the student leaders in the audience to actively advocate for Israel and encourage others to do so as well.

“Politicians will be listening to our generation; what will they be listening to?” Biederman said. “We can create new friends of Israel.”

Most the audience comprised student leaders who signed a petition published in the March 24 issue of The Daily Princetonian recognizing “the importance of the 60 years of steadfast friendship between the United States and Israel.” Sixty members of the student body signed the petition.

“We contacted organizations as diverse as Athletes [in] Action ... to all of the USG ... to various religious groups and various ethnic groups,” Ethan Ludmir ’11, a member of TFI, said of the effort to publicize the petition.

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While many of the students in attendance — though they were not members of TFI — were pro-Israel, others sought to use the evening to learn about the relationship between Israel and the United States.

“I don’t know much about the Israeli issue, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to find out more about it,” Charlie Sneath ’09 said.

Addie Lerner ’11, a member of TFI who organized the event, felt the evening was a success and said that “it’s all about building relationships with these students.”