The America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) held its 2014 Partners for Democracy Award Dinner Monday night, December 1, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, honoring The Iron Dome. The program opened with greetings from AIFL Chairman, Kenneth J. Bialkin.
"The AIFL is taking the extraordinary step of honoring not a person but a defense system. The Iron Dome Missile Defense System successfully secured the skies of Israel against rockets and missiles launched by Hamas in the recent Gaza war. Had not the Iron Dome achieved the success it did, Israeli's civilian population was at risk of immense casualties. "
The Iron Dome is an example of the successful combination of Israel's initiation and the U.S. support of financing and technical cooperation," said Bialkin."AIFL is honored that the NYSE recognizes Israel's accomplishments as a start-up-nation, not only in commerce, science and technology, but also in the creation of a society which advances the cause of freedom, liberty and human rights. Israel stands as a partner with the United States in the common defense of the values we share," said Bialkin.
The League presented its Partners for Democracy Award to MK Peretz, former Israeli Minister of Defense who secured government support for the project; Dr. Daniel Gold, initiator and entrepreneur of the Iron Dome System and the Hon. Raymond W. Kelly, whom Ken Bialkin called "New York's Iron Dome" for his relentless fight against domestic terrorism.
Honorees also included RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems, Ltd., the prime contractor for the Iron Dome project/ President & CEO Vice Admiral (Ret.) Yedidia Yaari; Israel Aerospace Industries, Ltd., developer and manufacturer of the Iron Dome's radar system/Nissim Hadas, IAI Executive Vice President & Elta President and mPrest, developer and manufacturer of the Iron Dome Command and Control System/President & CEO Col. (Ret.) Natan Barak.
Prior to the award presentations, Pulitzer Prize winning foreign affairs columnist for The Wall Street Journal Bret Stephens moderated an Iron Dome discussion with Ambassador Ron Prosor, Dr. Daniel Gold, Ambassador Dan Gillerman and Eric Cantor.
The gala dinner at the Plaza was attended by leading members of the American and Israeli business, technology and philanthropic communities as well as government and diplomatic missions.
Earlier in the day, The America-Israel Friendship League celebrated Israel Day at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Since 2007, the New York Stock Exchange has designated the day of the AIFL Partners for Democracy Award Dinner as Israel Day at NYSE. The Exchange hosts meeting and conferences organized by the League relating to Israel's remarkable economic growth and development. The day also highlights business innovation that can establish new partnerships and mutual investments, creating new employment opportunities in the U.S. and Israel.
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