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Politics & Government

Easton Mayor Headed to Israel for Conference

Easton Mayor Sal Panto will attend the 28th annual International Mayors Conference in Israel next week.

One of only 14 mayors from the U.S. invited by the Israeli government to the 28th annual International Mayors Conference, Easton Mayor Sal Panto will fly to the Holy Land for a week on May 4.

Also attending will be Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Panto said at Wednesday's city council meeting.

The Israeli government will be picking up the tab for the stay and the conference, Panto said.

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He added that he would have footed the bill personally for travel expenses, except the Jewish community in Easton has contributed the money for his airfare.

On the agenda is a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and trips to Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth.

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The mayors will also attend a variety of workshops on a number of subjects, including preventing terrorism, international trade and economic development.

“We really have no idea why we were chosen,” Panto said.

New York businessman Jack Rosen, chairman of the American Council for World Jewry, which sponsors the annual event in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Masham, the Union of Local Authorities in Israel is quoted as saying of last year's event, “This gathering allows municipal leaders from around the world – often tomorrow's national leaders – to learn from Israel's successes and exchange ideas and know-how that will improve the lives of people across the globe.”

Panto will return to Easton on May 11.

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