Queens pols return from Israel Braunstein, Liu, share observations after Oct. 7

by Sophie Krichevsky Associate Editor

Several Queens elected officials, including Borough President Donovan Richards, state Sen. John Liu (D-Flushing), Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park), recently returned from a three-day mission trip to Israel in order to more deeply understand the effects of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist group.

Organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council, the trip offered city and state politicians the chance to see the aftermath of the attacks, meet with families of those killed and taken hostage, tour cultural centers, visit the Western Wall and meet with Israeli political and faith leaders.

Braunstein told the Chronicle the group also met with military personnel from the Israel Defense Forces, volunteers with nonprofits and first responders. He “vividly” recalls speaking with one first responder with the Hatzalah ambulance group who had arrived on scene on Oct. 7.

“She was crying — she was visibly shaken by what she’d seen,” Braunstein said.

Both Liu and Braunstein spoke of the trip to Kfar Aza, a village just three miles from Gaza. During that visit, Liu said, he spoke extensively with one man whose family members had been kidnapped or killed. He learned in recent days that the man’s kidnapped relatives were among those hostages released by Hamas during this week’s temporary ceasefire. “We were all very emotional when we found out that his family had been released,” Liu said. “But we were certainly well aware that hundreds of others are still in captivity.”

Even though that southern part of the country tends to be more progressive, both said, the attacks had made people there question

Christmas caravan returns to H. Beach

Join the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic and the New Hamilton Beach Civic for the fourth annual Christmas Caravan on Dec. 9. at 11 a.m. on 165th Avenue and 84th Street.

Participants should line up along the parade route, bring a gift for the 106th Precinct’s toy drive and donate $10 to be part of the show. For more information, call (917) 488-5067 or email HBLCivic2014@gmail.com. Q

Woodhaven BID to host tree lighting

whether a two-state solution is possible.

“Their longstanding beliefs were shaken to the core by Oct. 7,” Liu said. That included “their loss of trust in their own government.”

In addition to showing solidarity, Braunstein said he hoped to be able to share what he’d seen with constituents. “It’s one thing to read about it in the newspaper, but it’s another thing to be standing there at the kibbutz, 3 miles away from the border of Gaza, and see it with your own eyes, and to talk to people face to face to look them in the eye,” he said. Q

All are invited to join the Woodhaven Business Improvement District for its annual Christmas tree lighting on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., at the intersection of Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue. The holiday kickoff will feature carols, photos with Santa Claus and hot cocoa. For more information, visit woodhavenbid.org/events. Q

Blood drive held at Jamaica’s 103rd Pct.

In Southeast Queens, one can donate blood at the NYPD 103rd Precinct’s muster room, 12 to 6 pm. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 168-02 91 Ave. in Jamaica; blood drive coordinator Sgt. Navdeep Singh. Q

with Live Animals

This year we will have guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchilla, ferrets, tortoise, chickens, bearded dragon, goat, sheep & llama (1:30-2:30 pm only)