Rochester Today – Reminiscing About Netanyahu’s Visit to Rochester

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial address before a joint session of Congress was taking place around the same time Tom Ostrom and  Andy Brownell were "on the air" with Tuesday's Rochester Today show on KROC-AM.

It brought back memories of Netanyahu's brief visit to Rochester in 1997. He arrived during a late April blizzard, and amid tight security, made a stop at Methodist Hospital to see Jordan's King Hussein. That was during the time that Hussein was often staying in Rochester as he underwent repeated procedures to treat the cancer that claimed his life in 1999.

The two leaders discussed the peace initiative that was being attempted at the time, and while Hussein had been highly critical of Israel's continued push for housing developments in Jerusalem, the two leaders also shared a very respectful and often friendly relationship.

It's strange to think back to those days, with the horrible violence associated with the perpetual Middle East conflict, and come to the realization that the problems facing that region then might be considered "quaint" when compared to the challenges posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions, ISIS and the outright wars taking place in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

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