Kemp Tours Israel and Meets Top Leadership

The crowd roared with applause at the Woodruff Arts Center on April 26 for Israel’s 75th anniversary celebration when Gov. Brian Kemp announced that he, his wife and three daughters were headed to Israel. Off they went at the end of May with a delegation of Jewish and non-Jewish community leaders, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s distinguished author and political writer, Greg Bluestein. Another prominent member of the Jewish community, Emanuel Fialkow, a commercial real estate investor, also joined the group.

Since Fialkow is also a Georgia Regional Transportation Authority board member, he was keenly interested in the delegation’s progress and meaningful encounters for trade.

Gov. Brian Kemp at the Western Wall. Kemp, clad in a red kippah, was emotional about what he experienced in Israel. This was Kemp’s first visit to the Holy Land.

Bluestein said, “I was with the delegation from early in the morning to late at night, though, occasionally Kemp would have private meetings with officials or his family away from the rest of the trip…As the first trip to Israel for the Kemps, they seemed deeply moved by the journey. The governor called his visit to Yad Vashem one of the most emotional experiences of his life, and said he came away from his discussions with [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and other leaders with a greater appreciation of Israel’s foreign policy challenges.”

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In addition to Kemp’s family and staff, Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns, and President Pro Tem of the State Senate John F. Kennedy, State Rep. Shaw Blackmon, executive counsel David Dove, Chairman of the Board of Regents Harold Reynolds, and vice president of Gulfstream, Jay Neely.

Fialkow detailed, “Between meetings with Georgia businesses set by Trade Commissioner Pat Wilson and his team, the delegation enjoyed guided tours of Israel from the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, City of David, Tel Aviv, and Galilee.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Greg Bluestein poses in front of a view of Jerusalem. Bluestein sent reports back to the AJC documenting the trip.

Gov. Kemp, along with Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon, visited with Israel’s foreign minister, President Isaac Herzog, and with Netanyahu.

Fialkow, a member of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and Congregation B’nai Torah, stated, “The Georgia delegation was led through sites named in both the Old and New Testament using the Bible as a site map while learning history and the culture of the Israeli people, of which is 20 percent non-Jewish.”

(Left) Emanuel Fialkow admires Gov. Brian Kemp for his hard work and dedication to having a strong Georgia business relationship with Israel.

Kemp was told the story of lone soldier Michael Levin, who was killed in 2006. He then made an unscheduled visit to his grave site where Kemp placed an Atlanta Braves hat on the grave as a symbol of the bravery of lone soldiers and Israeli soldiers.

In each of the meetings with businesses that have a Georgia facility presence, Kemp engaged discussion and repeatedly inquired, “How can we help grow your business?”

Emanuel Fialkow took this shot of Gov. Kemp placing an Atlanta Braves cap on a fallen Israeli lone soldier.

At a reception at the American Deputy Ambassador’s residence, with 100-plus Israeli businesspeople, there were more discussions about conducting business or growing businesses in Georgia.

Fialkow said, “The Kemps mingled with guests and gladly took pictures with anyone who wanted…One of the best parts of the trip was getting to know Georgia’s leaders on a personal level. It was a great group, and I have a bunch of new friends.”

AJC reporter Greg Bluestein with Israeli Consul General to the Southeast, Anat Sultan-Dadon.

When Fialkow was asked about surprises or regrets, he stated, “The governor works harder than I imagined, and he even sat in a middle coach seat on the 11-hour flight to Israel.”

Fialkow wished that they had tried the Israeli wine as a nod to that burgeoning industry.

The Georgia delegation visited the impressive Iron Dome facility.

Bluestein reported that the trade mission “hit plenty of spots on – and off – the beaten trail.” In between visits to the Old City, an emotional trip to Yad Vashem and Tel Aviv’s central business district, there was an in-depth tour of a highly secure cybersecurity center in Beersheva, a neuroscience lab in Nazareth, and a U.S. embassy gathering in Herzlya.

He relayed, “The governor and his delegation met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in three separate sit-downs. Attendees were pleasantly surprised that Netanyahu devoted roughly an hour to the meeting with Kemp.”

Bluestein, et al, enjoyed a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee to top off a gloriously productive trip. He stated that he was able to field occasional questions about Judaism and Israel.

Bluestein felt that his own religious training at Atlanta Jewish Academy and teaching at B’nai Torah helped revive his Hebrew language skills.

He said, “It’s amazing how quickly it comes back. We had tour guides during the cultural visits who were impressive experts on all things Israel, but it was fun fielding questions from members of the delegation…about Israel and Judaism.”

AJC reporter Greg Bluestein poses with State Rep. Esther Panitch.

On a more controversial note, regarding Kemp’s possible motivation for the trip to enhance his world stage presence, Bluestein pondered, “The governor hasn’t made any concrete steps toward running for president, but he certainly wants to stay in the national conversation – whether it be for 2024 or, more likely, a 2026 challenge to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff. And this trip was a way to make an impression – and help bolster his meager foreign policy credentials.”

Fialkow concluded, “Remember one of Kemp’s best announcements, “Georgia is the best state in which to do business, and the reason is because Georgia works harder to keep it that way.”