A group of House Republicans are traveling to Israel this week to meet with Jewish and Palestinian leaders as Democratic support for the war in Gaza wanes in the United States.
A roster for the delegation has not been released, but House Republicans, including Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), will travel there to “learn more about the U.S.-Israel relationship, the peace process, Israel’s security situation, and important political and economic trends in the region,” according to a release from the congressman’s office sent Monday.
The trip will be sponsored and paid for by the American Israel Educational Foundation, which is associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. But it gives Republican lawmakers another opportunity to highlight their virtual unity on Israel as the Biden administration‘s calls for a ceasefire fracture the Democratic Party.
This will be the second time Van Orden has gone to Israel since Hamas launched its terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. His last trip came during the speakership race after eight House Republicans helped Democrats oust former Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the position last fall.
While House Republicans have visited Israel in the past, this week will mark the first such delegation to the Jewish state for the 118th Congress. In August, House Democrats also visited Israel, the second trip for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) had taken this Congress.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led a bipartisan delegation of senators to Israel last fall, shortly after the conflict in Gaza began.
The Israel-Hamas war has become a point of contention among lawmakers. Most Democrats and Republicans have rallied behind Israel, one of America’s strongest allies. However, some progressive members of the Democratic conference are calling for an end to the conflict as thousands of Palestinian civilians are among the death toll.
President Joe Biden, too, has begun to take a harder line, calling for a ceasefire conditioned on the release of Israeli hostages at the beginning of the month. Meanwhile, Schumer raised controversy after he called for new elections in Israel.
House Republicans have been quick to blast House Democrats and the White House for what they perceive as a decrease in U.S. support for Israel, while some Democrats have accused GOP lawmakers of ignoring the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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Most recently, GOP lawmakers said the Biden administration had undermined Israel in its war against Hamas by abstaining from a vote on a United Nations resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire last week.
To further their support of Israel, Republican lawmakers are discussing the possibility of inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress. If scheduled, Netanyahu’s speech could anger some Democratic lawmakers who are opposed to unconditional aid to Israel.
