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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Gov. Christie will travel to Israel for Passover.

Gov. Chris Christie will travel to Israel


TRENTON — In a trip billed as a "Jersey to Jerusalem Trade Mission", Gov. Chris Christie will travel to Israel during Holy Week to expand business opportunities, experience the culture and meet with world leaders.

He will also spend time in Jordan with King Abdullah II.

A delegation of business and religious leaders will join Christie, his family and staff, the administration announced this afternoon. The Republican governor will be in Israel from Sunday through Thursday and Jordan until Easter Sunday.

“I think it’s important for me to continue to get a greater awareness of the world around me as a leader and someone who now has a bit of a national voice,” Christie said in an interview in Washington in late February. “I think it’s important for me to continue to open up my mind and my experience to things that are outside of the state of New Jersey.”

While travel to Israel has been a tradition for New Jersey governors since Gov.

Tom Kean, Christie’s growing national profile makes a trip to the Middle East all the more significant. He first announced plans to visit Israel back in October.

The Republican Jewish Coalition is co-sponsoring the trip, along with Choose New Jersey, a nonprofit formed by business executives in 2010 to expand the state’s economy.

The RJC has also sponsored similar trips for former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former President George W. Bush when he was governor of Texas.

The RJC will pay for the Christies' flight, other transportation and lodging.

Members of the traveling delegation will pay for their own travel and hotel costs, but Choose NJ and the RJC will cover the cost of on-site activities, transportation and meals in Israel.

Taxpayers will pick up the tab for Christie's security detail.

Lt. Kim Guadagno will serve as acting governor while Christie is out of the country.

1 comment:

  1. People don't spend large sums of money unless they expect something in return for that money. The people paying for Chris Christie's wife & children to go to Israel bought access to our Governor. They bought influence. It is sleazy and unethical for Chris Chrisite to accept these gifts.

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