Lawmakers flocking to Israel in droves
With health care reform undone and maybe undoable, it’s hardly surprising that lawmakers hightailed it out of Washington as fast as their little feet could take them last week.
Or, in the case of dozens of many, as fast as Israel-bound jets could fly them.
This week Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the GOP whip, is leading a delegation of 25 Republicans on a trip sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation – an affiliate of AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby.
The GOP delegation consists mostly of freshman members and first-time Israel visitors.
Not to be outdone, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will lead 31 Democrats on a similar mission later in the month.
Both delegations will have the usual meetings with Israeli and Palestinian bigwigs, starting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While the goal of both trips is fact finding, you can bet partisan politics won’t be left at the departure gate when they leave this country.
“The entire Republican Jewish membership of the US Congress is in Israel explaining why Jews can’t trust Democrats,” said a longtime pro-Israel activist, snidely referring to the fact Cantor is now the only Jewish Republican in either House of Congress.
Hoyer, on the other hand, will be busy defending the intentions of the Obama administration, which continues to generate anxiety among the Israeli public, while doing his best not to get ensnared in hot-button issues such as Jerusalem and Jewish settlements.