Leading Members of Congress Speak at Solidarity with Israel⏤A Strategic Event on Capitol Hill
Leading US lawmakers and senior leadership members representing key organizations and media groups affirm Israel’s sovereignty and address the significant spike in anti-Semitism within America. Elected officials speaking at the event strongly oppose calls for a ceasefire as the Jewish State aims to eradicate Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group in Gaza.
Washington, DC ⏤ December 19, 2023 | Leading lawmakers from the U.S. House and Senate gathered on Capitol Hill during the sixth night of Chanukah on December 12, 2023 to convey support for Israel and the Jewish American community. The event was co-sponsored by Speaker Mike Johnson and Chairman Mike Bost, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
The organizing group U.S.-based think tank International Leaders Summit brought together business, media, political, and religious leaders on Capitol Hill to stand in solidarity with Israel, in a time of rising anti-semitism and public hostility against the state of Israel. Media groups partnering in this endeavor on Capitol Hill included America’s Roundtable, Jewish News Syndicate, SuperTalk Mississippi Media and Lanser Broadcasting Corporation.
Members of the House and Senate delivered messages of support and affirmed the sacrosanct ties between the United States and Israel.
Distinguished speakers included U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, Chairman Mike Bost, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and US Marine Corps veteran, Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, and Congressmen Don Bacon, Ron Newhouse and Derrick Van Orden, retired US Navy SEAL.
The summit broke ground, hosting the first ever kindling of the Chanukah menorah on Capitol Hill, led by Rabbi Randall Brown, and joined by members of House and the Senate in attendance.
Chairman Mike Bost officially opened the event with his message of strong support for Israel during this challenging time in the Jewish state’s history. Chairman Bost and his spouse Tracy Bost have traveled to Israel and the region on several occasions and have established close contacts with leaders in the Middle East.
“What we truly see is a battle between good and evil, between peace and war, between light and darkness,” said Chairman Mike Bost. “We were all shaken to the core by the barbaric acts that were carried out by Iran-backed Hamas on October 7, 2023. We want to pray for the innocent, men, women and children, who were taken hostage, and they are still hostages today including American citizens. There is no doubt that Israel is in its fight for the Jewish state’s very existence. When we hear chants of river to the sea, Hamas has made it clear that their plan continues to be to wipe out Israel from the map. So calling for a cease-fire isn’t good, because they [Hamas] will be back. As long as they exist, as long as they have this drive — a spiritual drive, then our spiritual and moral drive is to protect Israel at all costs. Their mission is not complete, that is why America has to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel as the great nation that we are and the great nation that they are, because we understand peace…We must make sure that we continue to stand righteously with Israel through it all. Our relationship with Israel is going to become stronger.”
Senator Marsha Blackburn has traveled to Israel and has spoken about the significance of the US-Israel relationship. Through her leadership, Senator Blackburn is holding to account America’s universities and their leadership as the nation witnesses a significant spike in anti-Semitism within college environments. As was revealed through the high-profiled hearings on Capitol Hill, prominent universities have devolved into dangerous places for Jewish students and individuals who have communicated support for Israel.
Senator Marsha Blackburn is taking a firm leadership role in confronting anti-Semitism in America and standing with the Jewish American community. The U.S. Senator from Tennessee shared about her efforts in combatting anti-Semitism at home, “Senator Rosen and I passed a bi-partisan resolution in Senate, Condemning anti-Semitic activity on our nation’s college campuses — it was unanimous. Every college president in our nation has a copy of that document. The Senate stands united in condemning this activity…Tim Scott and I are also working on a piece of legislation that would strip federal funding from any college or university that allows this anti-Semitic activity. ”
Senator Blackburn has also been working toward passing military aid to Israel, including $6 billion for the Iron Dome and another $1 billion for needed ammunition. Speaking on sanctioning Iran, the Senator noted the marked difference between the current and former administration in dealing with the state sponsor of terror, “In the previous administration, when the oil sanctions were in place, Iran was making $10–12 billion a year, selling oil. With the administration choosing not to enforce sanctions, Iran is making a $1 billion a week selling oil. Their biggest customer is another axis of evil, which is China…If we give money to Iran — part of that money is going to funding terrorism, and part of it is going to enriching uranium. We want to diminish their ability to do so.”
In her opening remarks, Natasha Srdoc, co-founder of International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit addressed the high-level with the notable choices for the region.
“We have a choice to further peace, security, and prosperity among Arab countries, Israel and America — that the Abraham Accords achieved, or to succumb to murder and destruction — which is perpetrated by a single actor — Iran, a state-sponsor of terrorism — which is using its proxies: terrorist groups Hamas, Hezzbollah and Houthies to attack Israel, and militias in Iran and Syria, to attack America,” said Natasha Srdoc, co-founder of International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit. “We need strong US leadership to eliminate anti-Semitism in America and terrorism in the Middle East — for the lasting peace, security and prosperity in America and the Middle East.”
“Our convening today is vital due to the tragic and horrific events on that fateful day of October 7, 2023, Israel’s 9/11 which not only impacted the Jewish State,” said Joel Anand Samy, co-founder of International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit. “October 7 marked a dark day in history when the civilized world work up to acts of barbarism and the explosion of anti-Semitism in the Western world, including America. May our generation, and the generations to come remember October 7. This afternoon, our speakers will communicate a Call to Remember, affirm the US-Israel special relationship and our moral commitment to the Jewish state. America’s relationship with Israel is sacrosanct.”
Congressman Derrick Van Orden gave a passionate speech recalling his visit to Israel, including the site of the Nova music festival, following the October 7 atrocities and the resolve he has in advocating for support for Israel and combatting anti-Semitism even on the floor of Congress.
He presented to the crowd a cup from the site of the massacre at the music festival, “I looked around at the detritus there, and I saw these festival cups. I asked the Israeli minister who I was with if I could take them home as a physical reminder that these were children, and that they were not a slogan, or a saying, or a chant, and this is one of those cups. This cup bore witness to the 21st century holocaust that took place on October 7th.” Congressman Van Orden, retired United States Navy SEAL continued, “No one can ever tell me that those events didn’t take place. They can never say that it wasn’t as bad as it was. No one can ever equivocate what is taking place in Gaza with what took place on October 7 in Israel…There are people in this House, that will stand with you from the beginning to the end, to make sure that it never happens [again], from the river to the sea. You have my solemn oath.”
Congressman Dan Newhouse shared his personal connection to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Drawing attention to the lack of resolve demonstrated by university administrators in response to Jewish hate during a hearing the week before, Congressman Newhouse conveyed the importance of leadership which affirms the undying support of the American people in Israel’s just mission. Commenting on the screening of Hamas’s horrific atrocities, the Congressman said, “You could hear a pin drop in that room. The only other sounds were that of sniffles and people weeping.”
Relaying the steadfast support for Israel instilled in him from childhood, Congressman Don Bacon recounted his first visit to the State of Israel at the age of 15, when he first experienced Yad Vashem, and understood the importance of a Jewish homeland where
Jewish people can live peacefully without persecution or fear for safety, something of ever increasing importance, especially in today’s hateful climate.
“I have no moral ambiguity about this, I have total clarity about where should we stand with Israel…We have a moral reason, we need a home — a safe haven — for Jews all over the world. We have had thousands of years of persecution, the Holocaust being the most notable, obviously, but it is not just that, it goes way before that. We saw what happened with Hamas, the hate that is there. Israel is that safe haven to protect the Jewish people all over the world who are being persecuted,” the Congressman Bacon continued.
Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen representing American Samoa, communicated the support for Israel espoused by her constituents.“I know I speak for them when I say it is truly an honor to stand with the people of Israel,” said Congresswoman Radewagen. “We think of the beautiful words of Psalm 122, and with you, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, even more so as our thoughts are with Jerusalem for these eight days of Chanukah. Together we stand in unity to fully condemn the lawless violence of October 7 committed by the Hamas terrorists, we oppose anti-Semitism everywhere, and fully support Israel’s security and Israel’s right to defend their people and their nation.”
From Jerusalem, Israel, via video, Chris Mitchell, CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief, presented this relevant message to the high-level gathering on Capitol Hill by stating, “October 7 was a turning point in Israel’s history, and I would say also a hinge of history for the world. Israel is in its darkest hour since the Holocaust. And in my more than twenty years in reporting from Israel, I never seen the Jewish people more under assault around the world, and here in the Middle East, surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction. That is why Israelis see the support from Capitol Hill so vital for such a time as this. They appreciate the moral clarity from so many members of Congress and by so many Americans.”
Chris Mitchell further continued by saying, “What I have heard over and over, is the concern that if Hamas is not defeated, October 7 could be repeated and that would also encourage other Islamist groups surrounding Israel and around the world to continue and increase their jihad against Israel and the West. Since in so many ways, Israel’s battle is our battle too.”
A panel led by Natasha Srdoc, co-founder of the International Leaders Summit, and featuring Rabbi Randall Brown, U.S Department of Defense, and Jonathan Tobin, Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, discussed the role of elected and community leaders in combatting antisemitism, the threat Iran poses to Western democracies, and future opportunities of peace and prosperity through advancement of the Abraham Accords.
Pastors representing the Hispanic and African-American communities expressed the unequivocal friendship between their people and Israelis and the broader Jewish community worldwide. Carlos Duran, the president of the National Hispanic Pastors Alliance and Bishop Leon Benjamin of New Life Harvest Church in Richmond, Virginia and Gulf War veteran joined un presenting an impassioned defense of the existence of the State of Israel, and reiterated support for the Jewish people from their respective congregations and nationwide networks.
Videos from the Solidarity with Israel on Capitol Hill
