WASHINGTON – Congressman John Faso (R, NY-19) is just back from a seven-day fact-finding trip to Israel along with over 40 other House members from both sides of the aisle.
The lawmakers met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, experts on military and foreign policy issues as well as the opposition leader in the Israel Knesset. They also had discussions with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamdallah.
Faso said the trip has reaffirmed his support for Israel because as the only Democracy in the Middle East, the US and Israel have a lot in common.
“That doesn’t mean that the US does not have disagreements with Israel and visa versa, but on core values and where the society stands, we are shoulder to shoulder with Israel and we are also shoulder to shoulder on ensuring that the Jewish homeland, the Jewish state is protected and defended and that we work for peace in that region,” he said. “It is vitally important that we stand with Israel in that regard.”
The House members also visited the Golan Heights and other strategic areas. “The disintegration of the Syrian nation-state has reinforced my belief that it is critical that Israel maintain control of this important region,” the freshman lawmaker said. “Given Iranian and Hezbollah influence in significant parts of Syria it is all the more important that forces hostile to Israel never again have control of the Golan Heights’ strategic high ground.”
The group also discussed the West Bank settlement issue and, as a result members have, “a greater understanding of how settlements impact prospects for peace in the region.”
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