Political Quotes

“Today, we New Yorkers rise with a heavy heart to honor the memory of Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old from Plainview, New York. A grandson of Holocaust survivors, Omer deferred his enrollment at SUNY Binghamton to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, driven by a profound sense of duty and a dream of building peace in the Middle East. On October 7, 2023, Omer, serving as a tank commander, was among the first to respond to Hamas' brutal attack, risking his life to protect others. Tragically, as we learned this weekend, his life was taken during this horrific massacre. Omer's loss is deeply felt by the entire community in New York and across America. Flags across our State have been flown at half-staff in his honor, and we all join together in mourning a young man of extraordinary courage and conviction. Our deepest condolences are with his parents, Orna and Ronen; his brother, Daniel; and their entire family. For the past 423 days, driven by the love of their son, Orna and Ronen have endured something that no parent should ever have to endure. With strength, courage, resolve, and hope, they traveled the world, petitioned world leaders, visited Washington dozens of times, and fought tirelessly to bring their son home. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with Orna and Ronen and offered my profound sorrow for their loss and that of our country.…”