Speaker Brunch Highlights Quinn's Israel Ties

The City Council speaker is shoring up her credentials in the Jewish community in advance of an anticipated mayoral campaign, reaffirming the city's ties to Israel during a brunch at City Hall with the speaker of Israel's parliament, Dalia Itzik, several council members, and Jewish leaders.

Although Christine Quinn's mayoral ambitions were not openly discussed around the banquet table in the Red Room yesterday, at least one attendee pointed out that it would be important for her to have the backing of Jewish leaders should she mount a citywide campaign.

Ms. Itzik, the first female speaker of the 120-member Knesset, said she spoke with Ms. Quinn, the first female council speaker, about how to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel and suggested "that together we consider how we might mark this historic occasion in your wonderful city."

The Knesset speaker also boosted the council speaker's political career, saying, somewhat jokingly, that she assumes Ms. Quinn will one day become speaker of the House of Representatives.

The brunch also gave Ms. Quinn an opportunity to showcase a trip she took to Israel in February, when she and 10 other council members were warned about an imminent rocket attack while in Sderot, an Israeli border town. The council delegation was taken to an underground room and no one was injured. Ms. Quinn has said the experience affected her deeply.

The chief executive of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Michael Miller, who attended the brunch, said Ms. Quinn's trip has deepened the council's bond with Israel.