Cuomo, Citing ‘Wave of Anti-Semitism,’ Pays Impromptu Visit to Israel

3/4/17
 
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from The New York Times,
3/4/17:

When Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo arrives here early on Sunday, he will bring a message of solidarity with the Israeli people, a smattering of economic announcements and a small coterie of red-eyed staffers.

What he will take away, politically speaking, could be even more valuable: an undivided moment on the international stage.

Given that the trip was announced with little advance notice Wednesday morning, the governor’s exact plans were still coming into focus early Saturday after several days of scrambling by his staff. But the outlines of the itinerary seemed heavy on symbolism and light on down time.

The tour, which was expected to last less than 24 hours on the ground, was scheduled to include meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, both of whom rearranged their Sunday schedules to accommodate Mr. Cuomo’s visit.

Mr. Cuomo’s timing is also either ingenious or auspicious: On Friday, the anti-Semitic threats became major news again after federal officials — including Mr. Cuomo’s sometime foil, Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York — announced the arrest of a former reporter accused of making some of those threats.

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