The man some call Israel’s Rudy Giuliani, Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, whose city of 24,000 has survived frequent rocket attacks since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa intifada, visited New York City yesterday.

At a breakfast hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the Mayor was blunt and resolute. Straight from the airport, Mayor Moyal got straight to the point, saying: “As goes Sderot, so goes Israel.” Sderot will survive, he promised, because it must … because it is the face and front line of Israel. Moyal spoke about the needs of the residents in Sderot. He emphasized that the needs, especially for the children, are very great.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn also attended the breakfast along with the newly minted State Comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli. They were joined by New York State Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo, her daughter, City Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo and Councilmember David Weprin.

Representatives from the Orthodox Union as well as representatives from many other organizations that actively raise funds to help Sderot rebuild and recover, also attended the breakfast (Click here to take part in the Orthodox Union’s Sderot Children Emergency Campaign)