Posted by Heavyn Lester on April 29, 2024
After coming to a practical standstill following the start of the Israel-Hamas war, privatley funded congressional travel to Israel has seen a signifigant upturn in 2024.
Members of Congress and their staff have taken 34 trips to Israel in the past four months, approved by 18 Republican offices and 16 Democratic offices. While not yet reaching the 159 trips taken between January and September 2023, with only one trip taken in 2023 after the start of the war, this marks a notable rise in recent travel to Israel.
Since the start of 2024, privately funded travel to Israel has reached nearly $1 million. Privately sponsored travel to Israel surpassed $2.9 million in 2023.
Top sponsors include the American Israel Education Foundation, U.S. Israel Education Association and J Street Education Fund Inc.
The privately funded trips consisted of educational meetings with government officials that focused on the impact of the Israel-Hamas war.
Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:
