Mind the Tech NY 2024"Jerusalem is a model for everything the Middle East can be and will be"
Mind the Tech NY 2024
"Jerusalem is a model for everything the Middle East can be and will be"
Hundreds of millions of shekels have been invested in the west and east of the city, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said at Calcalist and Bank Leumi’s Mind the Tech conference in New York. Lion noted Jerusalem's leadership in urban renewal, advanced transportation systems and the employment revolution in the city. "The eternal capital of Israel is a city of integration, cooperation and progress"
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion
(Elad Gershgoren, Tomerico)
"It is never easy to be far from Jerusalem, but now it is more difficult than ever,” Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said at Calcalist and Bank Leumi’s Mind the Tech New York conference. "I leave behind me a city in mourning," continued Lion. "Almost one out of every 10 soldiers who fell in the war against the evil terrorists of Hamas are Jerusalemites. There are residents of the city of Jerusalem who are being held captive in Gaza. There are parents in Jerusalem whose children are kidnapped in Gaza by the cruel Hamas terrorists."
"Through the tears, the mourning and the sorrow - there is strength. There is unity. And above all there is hope. I am here today to tell you about this hope, and about the resilience of Israel, and specifically about the resilience of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish people. Despite the pandemic and the wars of recent years, Jerusalem, the heart and soul of our nation, not only prospered, but became a symbol of growth and development." Lion said that he is very proud of Jerusalem's position as a leader in the field of urban renewal in Israel, "Jerusalem has new and advanced transportation systems, two new train lines, three new light rail lines and seventy kilometers of bicycle paths. The Old City now has a network of modern and advanced transportation systems that also take the environment into account. Hundreds of millions of shekels have been invested in the restoration and renovation of educational buildings in the city. We have also witnessed an employment revolution in Jerusalem - new office buildings and workspaces have opened in the city, international companies have come to Jerusalem and are investing in it, thus guaranteeing Jerusalem's status as strong and solid economic hub."
Later in his speech, Lion emphasized the investments in the eastern part of Jerusalem: "When I talk about Jerusalem I am not referring only to the west of the city. I am talking about the entire city, east and west. In the east, the Arab residents of Jerusalem benefit from hundreds of new school classrooms, cultural and sports centers and a state-of-the-art technology park, with a total cost of more than NIS 200 million. Jerusalem is an example and model of everything the Middle East can be and what I believe it will eventually be. A city of integration, a city of cooperation and a city of progress."
Lion concluded by saying, "One of the most important things is the continuation of the indissoluble bond between Israel and the United States of America. I want to thank President Biden, the American administration and my close friend New York City Mayor Eric Adams. I want to thank you and praise you for your unwavering support for Israel, and for your unequivocal demand that all the abductees must return home now. The ties between New York and Jerusalem are an example to cities everywhere in the world, in terms of economic development, education, social activity and security. I know that together through cooperation and friendship, we can grow stronger and enjoy the benefits of the two cities, the two countries and the two peoples. God bless Jerusalem, God bless New York."
Watch his full remarks in the video above.
