One highlight of the trip was the opportunity for congressmen Ross and Pittenger to host a “Town Hall” meeting at Jerusalem’s Inbal Hotel. Despite the heavy rain and snow storm, American Israelis, American tourists and local residents flocked to the hotel to hear what the congressmen had to say about their own connections to Israel, and the future of the Israel-U.S. relationship.
Rep. Ross acknowledged that the Republican party has not historically adequately reached out to the American Jewish community, but he assured them, “that is changing now.”
When the topic came up of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned speech before the joint session of Congress on March 3, Rep. Pittenger had this to say: “I encourage everyone here to write two letters to the editor in U.S. publications. Hearing from you, as American-Israelis, will make a huge statement. You are American citizens and you need to spread the truth about the importance of the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to speak to congress. If you have a pen you can make a difference.”
The trip was arranged by Proclaiming Justice to the Nations and Yes! Israel missions, with assistance from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Ariel University, Keep Jerusalem, Republicans Abroad, Yesha Council, Temple Institute, and the Gush Etzion and Binyamin municipalities.
This article was edited to inform readers that Cong. Dennis Ross is not the man who served in recent U.S. administrations.