GOVERNOR CORZINE RECEIVES BRIEFING ON ANTI-TERRORISM, HOMELAND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY DURING OFFICIAL VISIT TO ISRAEL

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

July 23, 2008

Contact: Sean Darcy
Jim Gardner
609-777-2600


TEL AVIV – While on a tour of one of the most heavily bombarded cities in the Middle East, Governor Jon S. Corzine discussed critical concerns on anti-terrorism measures and how they can be applied to New Jersey’s homeland security needs during the fourth day of his official visit to Israel.

  While on a conference call with New Jersey reporters Wednesday afternoon, Governor Corzine discussed his tour of the Israeli city of Sdertot – located a stone’s throw from the embattled border of Gaza. The Governor said that during the briefing, he was told that the city of 20,000 residents has averaged 1,000 missile attacks a year over the last seven years, with as many as 70 in one day.

  “It shows very clearly that terrorism has a front line, and clearly it is Sderot,” Governor Corzine said. “The Israelis are under constant threat. We have a lot of work to do to combat terrorism.”

  On Tuesday, Governor Corzine received a classified briefing from senior officials at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, where he reviewed new airport security procedures and protocols and the state-of-the-art technology that makes those procedures possible. Other highlights of the Governor’s itinerary include a business roundtable at the MAMTAM High Tech Center, a meeting at a desalinization plant, and an evening roundtable with companies specializing in Green Technology.

  Governor Corzine concludes his official visit Thursday with sessions that include a briefing with the president of electric car developer Better Place Project and a test drive of a prototype electric car and a meeting at the Weizman Institute of Science.