Congressman Bob Dold led a JUF trip to Israel this past week for a series of high-level military, strategic, diplomatic and business meetings, continuing a 15-year tradition of Illinois' 10th District congressman taking such trips to Israel in the off-election year. This was Dold's second such JUF trip as a U.S. representative.
Chaired by JUF Board Member Sandy Perl and Denise Hoeflich, the trip included:
- Minister of Defense Moshe "Bogie" Yaalon;
- US Ambassador Dan Shapiro;
- Ambassador and new Member of Knesset, Michael Oren;
- Labor Party Members of Knesset Erel Margalit and Omer Bar Lev;
- Mark Regev, chief spokesman for the Prime Minister;
- Major General Uzi Moskowitz, Commander of Communication Corps, including Cyber Security;
- Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold;
- Ambassador Martin Peled-Flax, recently appointed Minister for Congressional Affairs at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.;
- Col. (Res.) Dr. Dany Tirza for a briefing on the security barrier;
- Alon Ben David, Senior Defense Correspondent, Channel 10 News;
- Ambassador and Dr. Oded Eran, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, and former lead negotiator with the Palestinian Authority;
- Briefing on the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS by experts at the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center;
- 10th District college students studying in Israel and former 10th District residents enlisted in the Israeli Army;
- A helicopter tour of the Israel-Gaza border and the Golan Heights with briefings by senior IDF officers,
- A visit to SOSA (South of Salame Street), a hi-tech incubator and startup networking center
Dold also had opportunity to brief some 40 U.S. soldiers from 2nd Batallion, 8th Marines on what he saw and heard during the trip, on the nature of U.S.-Israel relations, and thank them for their service. The Marines were in Israel for joint training exercises with their Israeli counterparts.
"It is great to be back in Israel, with and among friends," Dold said. "The partnership between our two nations is special and needs to be protected, and the opportunity to travel here with a group of constituents is something I greatly appreciate.
"Our days have been packed with public officials, senior military leaders, young IDF soldiers, current and former ambassadors, and even innovative tech entrepreneurs leading Israel's way as a startup nation. I look forward to taking what I have learned on this mission and getting back to work in Congress in a bipartisan fashion. The U.S. and Israel undoubtedly face many security challenges and opportunities in the future, and I will do everything possible to ensure that our nations approach them together and as the strongest of partners."
Perl added, "I've had the opportunity to travel with Bob three times to Israel. The chance to be both briefed on pressing issues of the day by the country's top policy-makers and to be directly involved in advancing the U.S.-Israel relationship is a profound privilege. Our group of dedicated community members who joined this special experience is returning home energized, educated and excited to continue advocating for Israel."
Hoeflich observed that, "from helicopters to cyber security and from meeting native North Shore young adults now studying or serving in Israel to experiencing Lag B'omer bonfires for the first time with Congressman Dold, it was an incredible, whirlwind experience. Our front-row seat to seeing how the U.S.-Israel alliance is enhanced made for the trip of a lifetime."
Also part of the delegation was JUF Executive Vice President Jay Tcath.
"As always, so much is happening in this hyper-vibrant country," Tcath said. "While we spent more than our fair share of time in briefing rooms and traversing its width and breadth in helicopters, Congressman Dold and his wife, Danielle, - who was making her first trip to the Jewish state - also got an abundant flavor for the many dynamic, diverse aspects to everyday, almost 'normal' Israeli society.
"JUF is proud and committed to its role as a provider of all types of Israel experiences for Jews and non-Jews alike, and among our priorities in this arena is providing such opportunities to Illinois' top federal, state and local elected officials. U.S. and state senators and reps, governors, and Chicago mayors are among the leaders from all over the state and from both parties who we have brought to Israel and who, in return, have brought back to our community a deeper understanding and commitment to the special U.S.-Israel alliance.
"We are grateful for Congressman Dold's leadership of this trip, as well as that of our two fabulous co-chairs and the other JUF board members and donors who took a week to be with us here in Israel. That our trip coincided with the tumultuous twists and turns of the formation of a new Israeli government made for an especially timely, exciting and invigorating mission; in other words, a 'typical' week in Israel."
The mission, like all JUF trips to Israel for elected officials, was partially subsidized by the Shafton Israel Institute, a JUF Centennial Campaign endowment program
.
