Gottheimer joins AIPAC’s political leadership forum to discuss bipartisanship and key U.S-Israel relationship
Gottheimer joined by bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, members of North Jersey's Jewish community, & AIPAC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Tuesday joined with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and his bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) to discuss bipartisan solutions in Congress and critical support for the historic U.S-Israel relationship.
“It’s great to be able to sit down with members of the Jewish community and with local and national AIPAC leaders to discuss the United States’ relationship with our historic ally, Israel,” Gottheimer said. “Our congressional trip this summer showed Israel that efforts to strengthen and maintain our nations’ strategic relationship are bipartisan and more important than ever. There is palatable excitement around the Abraham Accords and all that it offers the region, and, of course, deep concerns regarding the threat of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its terrorist proxies. We must remember that Israel’s national security is key to America’s national security, and to our fight against terror, including against Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS.”
“Along with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, including Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Brian Fitzpatrick, we are working to make sure that the U.S.-Israel relationship remains bipartisan and durable,” Gottheimer said.
In June, Gottheimer traveled to Israel with seven Members of Congress — four Democrats and three Republicans. Gottheimer met with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Alternate Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Head of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the United Arab List Party Mansour Abbas, and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Mohammad Shtayyeh, as well as national security experts and business start-ups. Gottheimer also met with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides and Bahrain Ambassador to Israel Khaled Yousif Al Jalahma.
During the congressional trip, Gottheimer participated in discussions with senior level officials regarding:
- Strengthening the historic U.S.-Israel relationship to improve defense and security cooperation;
- Coordinating on combating global antisemitism;
- Making progress toward regional normalization and economic and security cooperation stemming from the Abraham Accords;
- Supporting the independent investigation into the tragic killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh; and,
- Countering the threat of Iran and its terrorist proxies to Israel, the region, and the U.S.
The group also traveled to the Lebanon border to see a Hezbollah terror tunnel, and toured and received briefings on military installations including missile defense systems Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 3.
The trip was sponsored by the American Israel Educational Foundation (AIEF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and Gottheimer was joined by Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Ron Kind (D-WI), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and Michael Turner (R-OH), as well as Chairman of the Board of AIPAC Mort Fridman, a Teaneck, NJ native from New Jersey’s Fifth District.
