Israeli acting PM visits tomorrow

When Israel's acting Prime Minister visits the State House tomorrow, two Lexingtonians will be among the first to greet her.

The Acting Prime Minister, Tzipi Livni, will discuss economic and cultural exchange opportunities as they relate to the state's Life Sciences Bill, according to Rep. Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, who helped arrange for her visit.

Kaufman said he met the Israeli Consul General, Nadav Tamir, at a social event and they talked about getting Livni to speak at the State House. Livni is also the Israeli minister of foreign affairs.

"I basically got to be the host here in the State House," Kaufman said. "It was an honor to do that."

Kaufman also arranged for his rabbi at Temple Isaiah, Howard Jaffe, to do the invocation before Livni's address tomorrow.

"It will be my prayer that our gathering will leads toward the path of peace," Jaffe said.

According to the State House News Service, There will be some discussion over a life sciences partnership with Israel scientists in Haifa. The partnership was provided for in the $1 billion package passed by the House last month.

<span style="font-size: 9pt">Livni, a member of Israel's centrist Kadima party, has served in Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, as well as the Israeli Defense Forces. In 2007 she was featured in Time Magazine's Top 100 leaders and revolutionaries.</span>