Dear Friends,
During August, I participated in a bipartisan visit to Israel led by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MO). Since being elected to Congress in 2014, I have been impressed by the frequent bipartisan cooperation on critical foreign policy issues from both Leader McCarthy and Whip Hoyer, as well as the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and the Ranking Member, Eliot Engels (D-NY).
Israel remains our only democratic ally in the Middle East, and they are a vital economic and strategic ally of the United States. Her stability is critical to peace in the Middle East, and I was able to show my support by meeting with various stakeholders, soldiers, local Israelis, and more all over the country, including the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Picture: Delegation meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Our trip focused on the important national security partnership between Israel and the United States in the Middle East. Israel stands in opposition to Iranian hegemony and their development defense technologies.
We learned a great deal about the Israeli economy and the modernization enjoyed over the recent decades. In addition to defense electronics, Israel has developed globally recognized technological advances in machine tools, water conservation, and medical advances. The book, “Start-up Nation,” by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, outlines the conditions that have produced economic dynamism in this small country of eight million people situated in a hostile neighborhood.
The difficult surroundings present the Israel Defense Force (IDF) with vast challenges daily. In fact, I had the opportunity to meet a brave IDF officer who recently protected Israeli citizens from a dangerous terrorist attack. I was honored to present him with him with a challenge coin for his courageous actions.
Picture: Visiting with a brave member of the IDF.
Since President Truman recognized the independent nation of Israel in 1947, America has had a very important and engaged relationship with the country. While over the years, that relationship has experienced stages of strain, the lawmakers present from both sides of the aisle recognize the critical importance of our economic and security relationship with the Middle East's only pro-free-market democratic nation state.
We were able to hear from Israel's leaders, and give them an update on the House's efforts to continue a strong bipartisan working relationship with Israel.
Picture: A bipartisan press conference led by Majority Leader McCarthy and Minority Whip Hoyer.
The delegation did have the opportunity to meet with leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA), but these were disappointing. The PA faces tremendous complications in attempting to represent the Palestinian people in a bilateral negotiation with Israel on the stated objective of a two-state solution.
This complexity is due to lack of full basic governmental institutions within the Palestinian territories, the complete collapse of cooperation between the militant Iranian-backed Hamas party which controls Gaza, and continued interference from outside radical influence from the Islamic world.
At the outlook on the Golan Heights overlooking Lebanon and Syria, UN observers gave me an in-depth briefing on the important security issues Israel faces and how we can better work together to build stronger defense forces to combat the endless hostility directed at them from neighboring countries.
Picture: Discussing the troubled border region between Syria and Israel with UN observers stationed in the Disengagement Zone high in the Golan Heights.
The United States must continue to be a constructive catalyst for both sides to continue our dialogue. The fact that Egypt and Jordan have developed exceptional partnerships with Israel over the past three decades encourages me to believe that there is an opportunity for a two-state solution.
In the midst of meetings and briefings, I made time for a stop in the Old City of Jerusalem where the iconic Western Wall lies. This was a surreal moment to be at the Wall that's connected to the Temple Mount where Jews and others of varying faith traditions pray. Taking time to pray is vitally important to me, and I'm grateful I was able to be in the midst of so many lifting their prayers up.
Picture: Rep. Hill at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Visiting Israel was a great opportunity to learn from the source about technological and homeland security advances that Israelis have developed. The trip also allows my colleagues and me to explore commercial opportunities for their constituents by speaking with Israeli business leaders, along with other important collaborative projects that could benefit both Israelis and Americans.
Cooperation between the United States and Israel in intelligence sharing, fighting terrorism, homeland security, defense, military cooperation, weapons and technology development, and combating nuclear proliferation is vital to American interests and the well-being of Americans.
Sincerely,
Representative French Hill |
