Terps for Israel, UMD College Republicans Host State Officials for Discussion of Sister State Relations
Topics ranged from cultural and educational ties to student engagement
Members of Terps for Israel, University of Maryland College Republicans, and the campus community braved the rain to come together on Tuesday night in the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center to discuss the special relationship between the state of Israel and Maryland. The discussion was joined by a number of state officials, including Secretary of State for Maryland John Wobensmith, Deputy Secretary of State Luis Borunda, and co-chair of the Maryland-Israel Sister State Committee Bonnie Glick.
After detailing a remarkably diverse range of personal background both with Maryland politics and also with the issue at hand, the panelists’ discussion quickly veered towards the details of how the current administration in Annapolis has worked on developing the special relationship. The night provided several moments that provided unique insight into the way that Maryland and other state governments engage in foreign policy through whatever means are afforded to them, specifically within the scope of relations with Israel.
Deputy Secretary Borunda outlined his office’s commitment to fostering sister state relationships, both with Israel and with the various other foreign entities that enjoy such status with the state of Maryland.
Additionally, Secretary Wobensmith discussed the various cultural, educational, and business ties that constitute such a relationship, and said that many of the actions that Maryland takes to strengthen those connections are above and beyond what most states throughout the union are willing to do.
Maryland-Israel Sister State Committee co-chair Bonnie Glick finally provided her unique perspective as the only Jewish member of the panel, discussing her personal relationship with the Jewish homeland and even citing Team Israel’s surprising run at the World Baseball Classic as an example of how cultural ties can be vital to building state to state relationships.
The evening ended with a short question and answer session in which members of the campus community further explored how sister state relationships actually work. Both Secretary Wobensmith and Deputy Secretary Borunda pointed to their work for the state of Maryland and their deliberate decision to focus on sister state relationships as an example of the benefits that those connections can have for everyone involved.
