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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale called it &#8220;a life-changing experience.&#8221;</p><p>DePasquale, a Democrat, was at the Jewish Community Center on Thursday to talk about his recent, non-taxpayer funded trip earlier this month to Israel. He was joined by state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, who was also on the trip.</p><p>Calling it an educational tour of Israel, DePasquale said he realized how unsafe the region can be.</p><p>He, Kaufer and other elected officials toured the area, including a stop in Tel Aviv, the West Bank and later a visit to Gaza. He said he learned while on the trip that there are &#8220;150,000 missiles in Gaza pointed at Israel.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;This is every day,&#8221; DePasquale said. &#8220;And the people of Israel live with this fact and they live their normal lives. It would be like New Jersey having 150,000 missiles pointed at Manhattan.&#8221;</p><p>DePasquale and Kaufer said they were cautioned to not gather in groups because it would make them more susceptible to a missile attack.</p><p>&#8220;We were told a missile attack occurred close to where we were,&#8221; Kaufer recalled.</p><p>DePasquale said he will tour Pennsylvania to tell of his trip to Israel, which he called a &#8220;beacon of light&#8221; and America&#8217;s best ally.</p><p>&#8220;It was a very powerful experience,&#8221; DePasquale said.</p><p>He also visited the Holy Land and he met with Israeli officials on how their electoral system works. DePasquale said he is auditing Pennsylvania&#8217;s system.</p><p>He said he paid for half of the cost of the trip and the other half was coordinated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition.</p><p>DePasquale said he learned much more about Israel&#8217;s relationship with the United States and the common goals that the two nations share. He also explored potential economic development opportunities that could benefit Pennsylvania.</p><p>DePasquale said Israel&#8217;s role as a key ally and the only true democracy in the Middle East makes it necessary for the U.S. to help ensure Israel&#8217;s continued security. Trade between the nations is also extremely important.</p><p>&#8220;The United States is Israel&#8217;s single-largest trade partner,&#8221; DePasquale noted. &#8220;Much of that commerce involves technology, communications and agriculture &#8212; three major sectors of Pennsylvania&#8217;s economy.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks to members of the Jewish community about a recent trip to Israel with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, at right, at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_AG-JCC-1.jpeg</photo0><caption0>State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks to members of the Jewish community about a recent trip to Israel with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, at right, at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_AG-JCC-2.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks Thursday at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre about his recent trip to Israel. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_AG-JCC-2.jpeg</photo1><caption1>State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks Thursday at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre about his recent trip to Israel. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_AG-JCC-3.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks to members of the Jewish community Thursday about a recent trip to Israel with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_AG-JCC-3.jpeg</photo2><caption2>State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks to members of the Jewish community Thursday about a recent trip to Israel with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_DePasquale-Israel.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Auditor General Eugene DePasquale poses for a picture in Jerusalem during his recent tour of Israel with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer and others. Submitted Photo </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_DePasquale-Israel.jpg</photo3><caption3>Auditor General Eugene DePasquale poses for a picture in Jerusalem during his recent tour of Israel with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer and others. Submitted Photo </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

AG DePasquale calls recent Israel trip a ‘life-changing experience’