New Mexico State Representative Joseph Cervantes heads to Israel on ADL mission

Date: October 19, 2011

NM State Representative Joseph Cervantes is one of 10 legislators in the U.S. selected for ADL's Latino and Latin American Legislators Mission to Israel. The mission, which will be held November 28-December 7th is co-sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. Officials selected are from Texas, California, New York, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Illinois. Six legislators were selected from Chile and Uruguay.

"We are thrilled that a New Mexico legislator was selected", said Susan Seligman, New Mexico ADL Regional Director. " We see Rep. Cervantes as a new generation of statesman who will help shape New Mexico's future." The mission will provide participants with a first-hand perspective about the importance of Israel to world Jewry and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Attendees will visit key places of historical, religious and contemporary significance and meet with decision-makers, government officials, Israeli and Palestinian journalists, scientists, new immigrants and ordinary Israelis, both Arab and Jewish, from diverse backgrounds, including recent immigrants from Latin America.

In the past two years the New Mexico Anti-Defamation League has sent the following New Mexicans to Israel on ADL missions; Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz, Albuquerque Journal Editorial Editor Dan Herrera, Dr. Eliseo Torres, Vice President of Student Affairs at UNM and UNM student Jessica Martinez, former Youth President of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens).