Earlier this week I returned from Israel after a meaningful and moving visit where I led a delegation of 12 Democrats to the Jewish State on the eve of the 75th anniversary of its founding.
It was a delegation that broadly reflected the House Democratic Caucus, including the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the top Democrat on the Middle Eastern subcommittee, as well as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, several other members of the Congressional Black Caucus and several Jewish members of the House Democratic Caucus. Our delegation reflected the broad diversity of House Democrats, but spoke with one voice that we value the special relationship between the United States and Israel.
This was my sixth visit to the state of Israel. During my time in the Holy Land, I once again visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center where we paused to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of others lost to the murderous Nazi regime. We must remember the words: Never Forget. Never Again.
Later that day, I participated in a powerful Yom HaZikaron ceremony at Latrun, where seven thousand people from the Jewish diaspora throughout the world were in attendance.
At that event, I had the immense honor of paying respects to fallen members of the Israeli Defense Forces and victims of terror by laying a wreath on behalf of the Congressional delegation.
The United States and Israel have a special relationship anchored in our shared values and shared strategic interests. During the trip, we conducted a day of substantive meetings with President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.
With these leaders, we discussed our commitment to stop Iran from becoming nuclear capable, the prospects for a lasting peace with the Palestinians, the judicial reform proposal, continued security cooperation and opportunities to build on the Abraham Accords.
Through this visit, we reaffirmed our strong commitment to Israel as a thriving Jewish and Democratic state.
The Members of the delegation were:
- Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Member, Committee on Financial Services
- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Co-Chair, Steering and Policy Committee; Member, Committee on Appropriations; Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
- Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, First Vice Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce; Member, Committee on Homeland Security
- Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Ranking Member, Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government; Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- Rep. Nanette Barragán, Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, Chair, Problem Solvers Caucus; Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Member, Financial Services Committee
- Rep. Steven Horsford, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Member, Financial Services Committee; Member, Armed Services Committee
- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Rep. Joe Neguse, Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; Member, Judiciary Committee; Member, Rules Committee
- Rep. Dean Phillips, Co-Chair, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia
- Rep. Sara Jacobs, Caucus Leadership Representative; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Member, Armed Services Committee
