Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog

"The State of New York and the State of Israel have an unbreakable bond, and I was proud to reaffirm that commitment to Israeli President Isaac Herzog during our meeting today. I also congratulated President Herzog on his powerful speech to the U.S. Congress, where he stood up for our shared democratic values and highlighted the need to fight antisemitism in all forms.

"As Governor of the State with the largest Jewish population outside the State of Israel, I feel a solemn responsibility to protect and uplift New York's vibrant, diverse Jewish communities. I shared with President Herzog the steps we are taking in New York to curb the rising tide of antisemitism, in partnership with President Biden, as well as efforts to push back on the harmful BDS movement. We discussed the need for further economic cooperation between New York and Israel, and we committed to continuing conversations between New York and the Israeli Ministry of Economy.

"To echo President Herzog's remarks in Washington D.C.: it is clear that New York is irreplaceable to Israel, and Israel is irreplaceable to New York."