TRENTON, N.J. – As the conflict between the terrorist group Hamas and Israel stretches into its seventh day, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer, a member of the New Jersey-Israel Commission, expresses her support for Israel while recalling her recent visit to the nation and demanding more secure borders to protect Americans.
“Jewish people have survived centuries of persecution, execution, diaspora and hatred, but Hamas’ shocking and ongoing attacks on Israel are the most atrocious acts of antisemitism since the Holocaust. I am a proud Jewish woman and thankful for my friends at the Israel Heritage Foundation with whom I had the honor of accompanying on a trip to Israel this year,” Sawyer (R-Gloucester) said.
Sawyer, along with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, cyber security expert Katie Arrington, Alfie Oakes, a prominent Florida businessman, farmer and owner of Seed to Table, and Dr. Steven Soloway, a rheumatologist in South Jersey, among others, visited Israel in August. They met with Israel Defense and Security Forum Founder and Chairman Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi and toured an Israeli K-9 unit. After a visit to the Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, they were introduced to members and ministers of the Knesset, Israel’s legislature.
“During my trip to Israel, I was so fortunate to encounter many impressive dignitaries, but was truly blessed to meet Cookie, a Holocaust survivor. She survived the unimaginable and witnessed her entire family being murdered before being saved and taken in by a French woman,” Sawyer recalled. “We must defend the dreams of all Holocaust survivors and honor the memories of those we lost by unequivocally standing with the people of Israel. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to speak up for Israel and condemn Hamas. I am also calling on Americans to join me in demanding that President Biden close our southern borders immediately. The appalling and horrific violence in Israel underscores the importance of securing our borders and stopping terrorists from freely entering our country.”