Cuomo will meet with Netanyahu during jaunt to Israel

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his whirlwind trade mission and show of solidarity this weekend, his office announced Saturday.

The governor flew out Saturday afternoon and will arrive in Israel Sunday morning in the company of five staffers and a handful of Jewish leaders from New York, including Allen Fagin of the Orthodox Union, who introduced the governor Wednesday at the event at The Egg where Cuomo announced the trip.

Also en route: Howard Zemsky, president and CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development; Linda Mirels, former Chairman of the UJA-Federation of New York; Aaron Kaplowitz, Director of Global NY; Cuomo’s Chief of Staff Melissa DeRosa; David Lobl, special assistant for Jewish Affairs; Major Michael J. Cerretto, director of the Office of Counter Terrorism; Letitzia Tagliafierro, Cuomo’s special counsel for public safety and former executive director of JCOPE.

The governor and company will return to New York on Monday.

“New York’s special relationship with Israel is cultural, economic, spiritual, and historic, and I am proud to lead this unity trip to strengthen our economic ties and to reaffirm our strong friendship and support,” Cuomo said in a statement. “With the recent rise of anti-Semitism, it is more important than ever before to demonstrate the connection between New York and Israel, our intertwined histories and our common futures, and spearhead new economic partnerships to bring our communities closer together.”

Read more: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/272776/cuomo-will-meet-with-netanyahu-during-jaunt-to-israel/