\nThe former defense minister and two-time prime minister stressed what he called Israel\u2019s greatest resource \u2014 its people \u2014 and the salvation of a civilization during an hour-long meeting with a delegation of New Jersey business and religious leaders.<\/p>\n
\t"There is no army in the world that can conquer science,"<\/span><\/span> Peres said before closing the meeting to the press. "There is no police force that can check the power of science. There is no custom that can block what is happening in the brain of a scientist."<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \t_____________________________________________________<\/p>\n \tIn 1994, Gov. Christie Whitman signed a law requiring Holocaust education in public schools \u2014 a mandate Christie said he supports.<\/p>\n \t"I don\u2019t think it\u2019s even a close call," he said. "In a state that has as many Jewish citizens as ours does, to make everybody understand the nature of their experience and the perspective they bring to world affairs helps you form your own opinions."<\/p>\n \tLearning about the extermination of six million Jews helped cement his political perspective.<\/p>\n \t"I think that the Israelis have made legitimate attempts to bring peace to the situation with the Palestinians, especially over the past 25 years," Christie said. "In that competition of ideas, I think primacy has to be given to Israel given their experience. That doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t listen to Palestinians."<\/p>\n