The United States Senator from Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee visited Afula-Gilboa on Friday, August 29, 2003. Senator Chafee is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Chairman of the Sub-Committee for the Near East and South East Asia which includes Israel. Senator Chafee visited the Seam Line in the Gilboa Region and saw the building of the security fence. He spoke with Gilboa Mayor, Danny Atar, First Deputy Mayor of Afula, Menachem Yavor, and Deputy Mayor of Gilboa Id Saleem. The Senator was interested in gathering information about the security fence as a physical barrier which will contribute to the enhanced security of the residents of the region. Senator Chafee was also interested in hearing about the political situation in general. After visiting the Seam Line on Moshav Ram On, we traveled with the Senator to Id Saleem's house in Kfar Muqeble to continue the discussion. We were received with warm hospitality by Id and his family. The Planning for this visit was handled by Eshel and Donna in coordination with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and with the United States Embassy. It was quite exciting to have a visitor of this stature in our region.

  Tishrei 5764 - October 2003