Israeli delegation visit highlights international concern over Helene
Rep. Mark Pless (left) hosted Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon on a tour of Helene damage in Haywood and Madison counties on Oct 29.
Cory Vaillancourt photo
When Hurricane Helene slammed into the Gulf Coast on Sept. 27, the storm’s destructive capabilities instantly grabbed national headlines. Now, the storm is drawing international attention thanks to an Oct. 29 visit to Haywood County by Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon.
The delegation brought supplies and toured damage in Waynesville before holding a press conference in Clyde, where they were joined by more local leaders.
After the press conference, Sultan-Dadon was set to proceed to hard-hit Canton, and then up to other hard-hit areas in Pless’ district in Madison County. Sultan-Dadon said she’s been amazed at the resilience she’s seen in the mountains.
“I think that is something Israelis have in common with the strength of people here,” she said.
It wasn’t Sultan-Dadon’s first visit to storm-ravaged areas in the southeast. On Oct. 9, she visited North Augusta, South Carolina to show solidarity with Americans, whom she called “Israel’s most important ally in the world.”
The press conference was hosted by Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood), who himself was in a swift water boat conducting rescues during the flood.
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“From the time the rain started we all knew it was going to be bad, but those of us that live here didn’t know it would be this bad,” Pless recalled.
Pless added that he’s been heartened to see neighbors helping neighbors, but to receive the delegation like it did Tuesday afternoon, people he’d never met, never heard of, was spectacular.
“That is very humbling to me,” he said.
A member of the Israeli diplomatic corps since 2004, Sultan-Dadon has served as the consul general of Israel to the Southeastern United States, based in Atlanta, since 2019. Previously, she served in Israeli embassies in Australia, Cameroon, Germany, the Netherlands as well as in postings in Jerusalem in the Euro-Asia and Asia-Pacific divisions of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sultan-Dadon holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in criminology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
In her role as consul general, Sultan-Dadon is responsible for advancing bilateral relations between the State of Israel and seven southeastern states — Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Sultan-Dadon and members of her staff, joined by members of the Georgia House and Senate, were hosted by Pless. Leading the way for the Georgia delegation was state Rep. Brent Cox, who represents an area just north of Atlanta. Cox recalled how scary it was to see how devastating the storm had become.
“We found during a time when there’s a campaign that we really needed to stop from that and just focus on being human,” he said.
But Cox also added that the devastation he’s encountered in Western North Carolina is unparalleled.
“Today I’ve seen some stuff I’ve never seen in my life,” he said.
During the event, a few local leaders spoke. Among them was Waynesville Town Council Member Anthony Sutton. Sutton said that it’s during times of challenge that bonds of friendship and support shine brightest.
“From Israel, we cherish the values of unity and compassion that bring us together,” he said. “True friendship is about standing by one another, offering strength and understanding. Let's continue to uplift each other, sharing in both the joys and the struggles, knowing that together, we can overcome anything.”
In addition, state Reps. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) and Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) both took to the microphone to express their gratitude for the aid received and pledge their support for Israel.
“We appreciate the visit today and the fact that you are here speaks volumes,” Gillespie said.
Sultan-Dadon noted that it has been a tough year in Israel, but said that thanks to American support, their trying time has been made just a little more bearable.
“For the past year we have seen the United States, we have seen so many American friends stand in support of Israel at this time,” she said. “When Hurricane Helene hit and we saw so much devastation in so many of our American friends going through what is still very difficult, we thought that this is an opportunity for Israel to also say we stand with you, we support you.”
