Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chemi Peres, son of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to create a partnership between “technology and innovation ecosystems.”
Chemi Peres is chair the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation.
The two seek to further “innovation and entrepreneurship” in the Windy City and the Jewish state by uniting business, academic, civic and government leaders, led by World Business Chicago.
“Shimon Peres believed in the transformative power of technology and innovation as a pathway to peace, and we are proud in Chicago to foster an environment that makes agreements like this possible,” said Emanuel. “Around the country and increasingly around the world, our city is known as an emerging technology and innovation hub with the workforce and education backbone that can support it.”
“This is another meaningful milestone cementing the relationship between Chicago and Israel. A broad-shoulders, can-do attitude infuses both parties, and when their innovative efforts are leveraged, great things happen, for Chicagoans and Israelis,” JUF executive vice president Jay Tcath told JNS. “From law enforcement to water research exchanges and from civil society collaborations to booming trade relations, the ties between our beloved Chicago and Israel have never been stronger.”
“From day one to these final few days as mayor, Rahm Emanuel has made deepening these ties a priority, hosting new partnerships in Chicago and leading a delegation of entrepreneurs to Israel a few years ago to explore new possibilities,” he continued. “Chicago and Israel face many daunting challenges. Among the reasons each have for optimism is their partnership, signaling what’s possible and a shared path to that better future.”
Emanuel, who is Chicago’s first Jewish mayor, did not seek re-election and will be replaced in May by Democrat Lori Lightfoot, who was elected earlier this month.
