Law
students and university student leaders recently attended a reception
with the first Cuban American Democrat to represent South Florida
in Congress, Joe Garcia, about the importance of the
U.S.-Israel relationship.
Garcia,
no stranger to the University of Miami, graduated from the university, A.B.
’87, and Miami Law, JD ’91. The son of Cuban refugee parents, Garcia was
appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission, an agency which
regulated utilities, after law school and in 2000 was named executive
director of the Cuban American National Foundation, where he advocated for
human rights in Cuba and
Latin America. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama as a director in
the Department of Energy’s initiative to lower energy costs for families. In
2012, after two unsuccessful campaigns in 2008 and 2010, Garcia won the
election against incumbent David Rivera in the newly created 26th congressional
district.
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Hosted
by the University of Miami Hillel, Canes for Israel, and the Cardozo Jewish
Legal Society,
Garcia
discussed how the Cuban community strongly identifies with Israel’s exile and the Jewish diaspora story while Israel identifies
with the Cuban liberty
movement. He has travelled to Israel twice and plans to return this
summer.
“I love
Israel – I’m going again this August. It has a rare vibrancy, a
place of the here and now. It’s a dynamic society that’s on the cutting edge of
so many things. I look forward to being back and, unlike some of my
colleagues, I will not be skinny-dipping in the Sea of Galilee,” said
Garcia, referencing the faux pas by Republic lawmakers and
staff in 2011.
Garcia expressed
his concerns over the conflicts in Egypt, Iran and Syria, as well as
his support for the Iron Dome Missile Defense Fund, a U.S. funded military
technology system designed to track an incoming
missile’s trajectory, alerts humans and deploys an intercepting
missile to stop the attack.
“I
support the Iron Dome. What we’ve done is develop a strategic alliance with
Israel,” said Garcia. “Israel is one of the few powers in the world that can
buy almost anything off our shelf. This means jobs in America, but most
importantly, it helps us combine our newest technology with Israel, which
allows us to better protect Americans in the long term, while helping stabilize
a key player in the region.”
Rafael Yaniz,
1L, a non-Jewish Cuban-American Roman Catholic and pro-Israel activist with the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), led the discussion with Garcia. Yaniz strongly
identifies with the Jewish community, saying, “the story of a people exiled from
their homeland is not new to me.” He has visited Israel three times and has lobbied the U.S. Congress to fund the successful Iron Dome
project in light of the rocket attacks against Israel.
“When
those sirens go off, you have 15 seconds to find cover – sometimes less,”
said Yaniz referring to incoming rockets.
“You’ll hear the explosions and not know if your neighbor or family member
died because of it. Playgrounds have bomb shelters under the caterpillars so
kids can run under it instead of running into a building. It is brutal
terror that has caused post-traumatic stress disorder rates to skyrocket in the
communities of southern Israel.”
Roiy Frenkel, the Israel Fellow and
Director of Israel Programs at the UM Hillel, served as a commanding officer in
Israel’s military for four years. Originally from Shoham, Israel, a town
halfway between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, Frenkel serves as an emissary
for Israel to the U.S., talking with students about Israel’s history and
explaining the conflict in the area.
“What’s many Americans
don’t understand is that this is a border war. I’m not crossing
30,000 miles - I’m crossing the border. It’s literally in my
backyard,” said Frenkel. A half Arab with family from
Tunisia and Romania, Frenkel attributes the conflict to a long
history of betrayal and the radicalization of Muslim children. “In their
schools, they’re taught to hate us. My father never taught me that,”
said Frenkel. “Unfortunately, the reality is that [the history between our
countries has taught us] that we reach our hand to peace, but with the finger
on the trigger.”
Kevin Yombor,
2L and Miami Law’s American Bar Association representative, studied
international relations with a focus on Asia and was always interested in
politics, but prior to Garcia’s discussion, had not been familiar with the
Middle East and U.S.-Israel relations. “It was interesting to learn that Israelis and
Palestinians intermingle and find a way to work together and live in peace in
certain zones in the West Bank,” said Yombor.
“I learned a little bit more about the world.”
According
to Yaniz, the purpose of the event was to allow law and student leaders to
hear about the U.S.-Israel relationship from a member of
congress. Yaniz was also grateful for the attendance of Miami Law
administrators, including Dean of Students Janet Stearns, Assistant Dean of
Professional Achievement William VanderWyden, and Director
Joanne Koren.
“I am
lucky to enjoy strong relationships with several administrators, even as a 1L,”
said Yaniz. “That is something that is particular to Miami Law -
the student focus is second to none.”
