(Courtesy of One Israel Fund) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wasn’t the only one in Washington on July 24 making the case on behalf of Israel. A distinguished delegation from One Israel Fund held a series of meetings with prominent elected officials to express the pro-Israel community’s gratitude for their steadfast support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. However, and even more importantly, it was to educate them on the vital importance of Israel maintaining control of the heartland communities throughout Judea and Samaria as this is something oftentimes glossed over by the other Israel organizations on the Hill as well as taking congressional delegations to Israel.
The delegation featured One Israel Fund President Jacqui Herman; board members Dr. Gary Applebaum, Dr. Irwin Azman and Eli Burman; Larry Rein, Phil and Margy Jacobs, Rochelle and Steve Battino; and Executive Vice President Scott M. Feltman.
The day began with a lively roundtable discussion over breakfast at the Capitol Hill Club followed by individual meetings on the Hill. In total, the delegation met with 12 lawmakers—Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.; Congressman Don Bacon R-Neb.; Congresswoman Lori Chavez-Deremer, R-Ore.; Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y.; Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.; Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.; Congressman Nick Lalota, R-N,Y,; Congressman Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y.; Congressman Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.; Congressman Brian Mast, R-Fla.; Congressman Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y.; and Congressman Rudy Yakym, R-Ind. Each member has visited Israel numerous times yet never had the opportunity to visit the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Feltman and Herman offered each member the opportunity to join One Israel Fund for a day or more to visit the heartland on their next trips, which was met with great interest and anticipation.
Many other officials expressed interest in meeting with the delegation but the day didn’t allow for additional meetings since the prime minister was speaking that afternoon to a joint session of Congress. Herman was given a “golden” ticket by Congressman Lalota to view the speech live while the rest of the delegation returned to the Capitol Hill Club to watch the speech together with many of the staffers on the Hill.
For more information about future delegations to Washington with One Israel Fund please email [email protected]; To learn more about the organization, please visit www.oneisraelfund.org or follow them on Instagram (@oneisraelfund) or Facebook (One Israel Fund).
