Americans For A Safe Israel (AFSI), an educational organization that unwaveringly supports an undivided Israel, announced on Friday that New York-based attorney Mark Langfan, a regular op-ed contributor to Arutz Sheva, has been elected as the organization's new national chairman.
AFSI, based in Manhattan, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the group's official incorporation this year. AFSI has been led by its Executive Director and Board since the passing of Herbert Zweibon, the founder and only prior national chairman of AFSI, who died on Tu B'Shevat, January 19, 2011.
Mark Langfan may be best known in the pro-Israel community for the original educational 3-D Topographic Map System of Israel he created in the 1990s. The maps and related educational material are specifically designed facilitate clear understanding of the dangers facing Israel and its water supply. The maps have been studied by U.S. lawmakers and can be seen at www.marklangfan.com.
Helen Freedman, AFSI's executive director, congratulated Langfan on his election, stating, "Pictures are worth a thousand words, and viewing Mark's maps, one gets the message of what a so-called ‘demilitarized’ Palestinian Authority state would look like - inside Israel - with rockets pointing at Israel's population centers. Another map shows Israel's strategic value to the U.S. and our NATO allies. His maps, as well as his frequent insightful commentaries on Arutz Sheva and other outlets, have made him a popular speaker at many pro-Israel events."
Langfan writes frequently on security issues and Israel and over 50 opinion column authored by him have appeared on the Arutz Sheva website since January 2012.
Langfan plans to continue to speak and write as well as focus his attention on strengthening AFSI's relationships in the pro-Israel community by working with like-minded Jews and Christians, growing AFSI's membership and expanding AFSI's network of local chapters.
AFSI has active chapters and affiliates throughout the U.S. including Washington DC, Miami, FL, Chicago, IL, Orange County and Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Houston and Dallas, TX, New York City, Albany, Rochester, Long Island, NY, Springfield, N.J. Its International affiliates include a Jerusalem, Israel chapter, plus members in Australia, Canada, Germany, and England.
AFSI was initiated in 1970 as an American counterpart to the Land of Israel Movement and through education efforts asserts Israel's right -- historic, religious and legal -- to the reunification of Jerusalem and retention of the lands regained in 1967.
(Arutz Sheva’s North American Desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)