This Executive Order extended EO #208 (Kean), EO #35 and #90 (Florio) and EO #70 (Whitman) and was extended by EO #12 (McGreevey).

WHEREAS, on April 25, 1988, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, the State of New Jersey entered into a Sister State Agreement with Israel (hereinafter referred to as "Agreement") as a symbol of the potential for cooperation that exists between our two states; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement calls for the development of trade and cultural and educational exchanges, in addition to encouraging the development of capital investment and joint business ventures; and

WHEREAS, on May 31, 1989, the State of New Jersey established the New Jersey-Israel Commission (hereinafter referred to as "Commission") by Executive Order No. 208 (Kean) to enhance New Jersey's ability to implement the stated goals of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Commission was continued by Executive Order Nos. 35 and 90 (Florio) through and including May 31, 1995; and

WHEREAS, the Commission was continued in 1995 by Executive Order No. 37 through and including May 31, 1997; and

WHEREAS, the Commission has effectively fostered a spirit of cooperation between the citizens of the State of Israel and the citizens of the State of New Jersey that should continue in order to further the goals of the Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The New Jersey-Israel Commission shall continue in existence through and including January 1, 2002.

2. All other provisions of Executive Order No. 208 (Kean), Executive Order Nos. 35 and 90 (Florio) and Executive Order No. 37 (Whitman) which are not inconsistent with the foregoing shall remain in full force and effect.

3. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN under my hand and seal
this 28th day of May in the the
Year of Our Lord, One Thousand
Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven,
and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-First.

/s/ Christine Todd Whitman
Governor

Attest:

/s/Michael P. Torpey
Chief Counsel to the Governor