Peter Callewaert

A San Diego sheriff’s department commander is the latest county employee to partake of a free trip to Israel courtesy of the Anti-Defamation League. Investigations honcho Peter Callewaert ran up a $5627 tab going to the 2016 Western States Counter-Terrorism Seminar in Tel Aviv, Israel, from March 6 to March 15, according to a March 30 disclosure filing.

It’s not the first time a local deputy has hit the road thanks to Israeli generosity. In April 2013, assistant sheriff Patricia Duke took a $10,337 junket there with money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, widely known as AIPAC, the self-styled pro-Israel lobby. And in October 2013, sheriff captain Michael Barnett went on that year’s counter-terrorism jaunt with $5500 supplied by the Anti-Defamation League.

Blogged regional director Tammy Gillies about the tour: “We made our way to the beautiful Assaf Winery where one or two group members seemed prepared to hang up their badges and work for the Assaf family making wine in this beautiful part of the world. After a fantastic lunch and wine tasting we asked the owner how he feels about being so close to the Border. He only half-jokingly told us that he feels he is so close that the rockets will go right over them. What a way to live?”