Found this interesting press release on the City of Hartford website (Dude, is anyone going to tell them to get rid of the circa 1999 scrolling marquee?):

(September 19, 2008)— Mayor Eddie A. Perez is looking forward to Hartford building
economic development bridges with Jerusalem to help create jobs, increase trade, and
improve the quality of life in Connecticut’s Capital City through high paying
employment.

“Hartford has a world-class medical community and we could strengthen hospital related
jobs and businesses by building relationships with companies in Jerusalem that
manufacture medical devices. I look forward to our business leaders building
partnerships that could bring new firms to Hartford and help us grow and take a leading
role in this global economy,” says Mayor Perez.

The Mayor has just returned from the 26th Jerusalem Conference of Mayors, hosted by
Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski. The U.S. Conference of Mayors participated in this
trip through the Council for World Jewry and the American Jewish Congress.

Mayor Perez adds, “This trip was a unique opportunity to learn and adopt best practices
from other cities from around the world. Economic development, green technology, and
healthcare are issues that impact all of us. This conference provided a fresh look at how
we can all work together to use technology to improve the quality of life in urban areas.”

In addition to Hartford, the United States delegation included mayors from Albuquerque,
New Mexico, Augusta, Maine, Lansing, Michigan, Nashville, Tennessee, and Tucson,
Arizona. Mayors from about 40 cities in South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and
Africa also participated in this global conference.

This event concluded just before International Peace Day, which is Sunday, September
21st. The day was established in 1982 by a United Nations resolution so that the entire
world can engage in realistic acts of peace. Mayors from around the world meeting to
improve quality of life issues through economic development and green technology
demonstrates proactive measures that are taking place today to make way for a better
tomorrow.

Is it weird that Hartford would seek advice from a nation that continues to have ongoing violent conflict? Or do we get to ignore the Palestine/Israel thing now?

I’m aware that many nations/countries have wars and conflicts, but wouldn’t it have made more sense to turn to Japan on this one?