Published in the Times-Herald, by Eric Devlin

December 11, 2013

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro and State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-8, made a stop in Dresher recently to promote community solidarity with the state of Israel.

Corbett, Shapiro and Williams participated in the event “Standing with Israel” at Temple Sinai, at 1401 N. Bethlehem Pike, on Dec. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Also on hand for the event was Consul General of Israel to the Mid-Atlantic Region Yaron Sideman.

In his speech, Corbett said the United States, and Pennsylvania specifically, should stand with Israel because the two countries share the values of freedom and respect for humanity.

“We stand with Israel because Israel’s people are living proof that the principles of democracy and freedom can thrive in the most difficult of soil,” Corbett said. “And become a symbol of hope to those who struggle for freedom and self determination all around the world.”

He said the U.S. is not an ally to Israel because it is convenient but because its people are one of the “closest reflections that we can find of the American ideals of political freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of dissent and freedom to worship the god we share.”

Corbett later reminded the crowd of the close ties Philadelphia has to current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Benjamin Netanyahu speaks English with a Pennsylvania accent,” he joked. “Because this place, the foundation of western democracy, was home to him in his youth, it is fitting then that Israel maintains a consulate here in Philadelphia.”

He finished by saying “Israel will always find a friend here in Pennsylvania and we hope that in some small measure they will also find a second home in bond and spirit.”

Later in the evening Shapiro told the crowd that the U.S. should support Israel “because it is right.”

“We know that Israel is the only true democracy in the region and a critical global ally,” Shapiro said. “We understand that our respective militaries collaborate and cooperate on important defense systems like Iron Dome.”

He mentioned the fact that Philadelphia processes 25 percent of Israel’s nearly $20 billion in exports to the U.S.

“That’s a primary reason why I fought hard to keep the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia open and made these points in my letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

Like Corbett, Shapiro said the U.S. should stand with Israel because the two countries share values, comparing the similarities of Declaration of Independence to the Israeli declaration.

“Communities like ours in Montgomery County and all across the United States gather and mobilize and organize and stand with Israel sometimes because of trade, sometimes because of faith, but always because of shared values,” he said.

Shapiro challenged the crowd to do its part to actively support Israel by talking with friends, visiting the country, investing in an Israeli start-up and contacting local officials.

“It is up to each of us when we leave here tonight to pick up that work and play our part in the task at hand,” he said. “For Israel, no doubt. But for our way of life, for our values, for our core, common founding principles.”

“Israel is more than a country,” Williams said. “Israel is more than a country that represents Jews. Israel is a country that represents the best possibilities of what human beings can do under adverse situations when humanity comes together and perfects itself.”

Williams related the struggle faced by many Jewish people to the discrimination faced by African Americans during the civil rights movement, noting that he was raised to have a sense of fairness and to encourage human dignity.

“I do not apologize for being strident in my ardor for a nation that has done more for the world in its representation than any other country in its existence in modern history,” he said to a standing ovation. “I don’t apologize for that. Nor should we.”

Sideman mentioned a number of advancements in science and technology made in Israel including the exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk upright. He said he was extremely proud to represent Israel in our region calling the U.S. the most important ally on earth. He mentioned the fact that inscribed on the Liberty Bell was a passage from Leviticus 25:10 in the Old Testament that reads “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

Afterwards Dresher resident Ellen Spear said, “It was nice to see so many people from different faiths, (and) different political parties. You didn’t know who was who, but everyone was in support of Israel.”

(Eric Devlin, "Gov. Tom Corbett, Josh Shapiro and Sen. Anthony Williams show support for Israel at Temple Sinai in Dresher," Times-Herald, 12/11/13)