An Israeli Flag in South Carolina. Photo Credit: South Carolina State Rep. David Weeks Description: The South Carolina delegation of Republican and Democrat lawmakers in Israel with Jordan Valley Mayor David Elchaiiani on the Sartaba Mountain. Photo 2: Credit: Anav Silverman, Tazpit News Agency / Rep. Alan Clemmons and the Executive Director of Efrat Medical Emergency Center, Rabbi David Marcus. At Alan Clemmonss Myrtle Beach law firm in South Carolina, the Israeli flag proudly flies alongside the U.S. and state flag. While the South Carolina state representative put the flag up several months ago, it is not the only public show of support that Clemmons has shown towards Israel during the past 12 years as a member of the South Caroline House of Representatives. In 2011, Clemmons sponsored the South Carolina Stands With Israel Resolution, which unanimously passed the South Carolina General Assembly. “It was something that both Democrats and Republicans in our state legislature could agree upon,” Clemmons told @Tazpit News Agency in a recent interview, during a visit to Israel this week. “I expected a fiery debate on this resolution, but every single one of the 124 members of the legislature voted for it,” added Clemmons, who is leading a delegation of 24 South Carolina state legislators, spouses and friends on a visit to Israel. The group is on a mission to learn more about the country’s technology, healthcare, security, and economy as well as to explore new areas of cooperation. During this past week, Clemmons has led a group of lawmakers from South Carolina, including both Democrats and Republicans on a 10-day trip to Israel. South Carolina Legislature Minority Leader, Todd Rutherford (D) told Tazpit that the visit was a significant one for him. My support of Israel is not just talk, Rutherford said. Im here to see how we can further ramp up our relationship with our closest ally, said Rutherford, who first visited Israel in 2010 with AIPAC. “It’s been a very enlightening trip for me,” State Representative Shannon Erickson (R) told Tazpit. “I had a lot of misinformation before I came on this trip and I was surprised that there is a lot of heart to work out the issues here on both sides,” she said. “People are not angry, hateful or full of fear as you would think just watching the media coverage of this region. There is kindness and morality among Israelis and Palestinians and also a lot of resilience – I wish more people could see this side of the country.”
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:11:50 +0000