by Janet Davis, excerpted from Gazette.Net - Maryland Community Newspapers Online

During an economic development trip this week to Beit Shemesh, Israel, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett announced a sister-city relationship between the jurisdictions to help boost the county's international business presence. Leggett (D) made the announcement during a video conference Wednesday from the Israeli city, while the city's mayor, Daniel Vaknin — who was visiting the Washington, D.C., area — watched from the county's economic development offices in Rockville.