Few issues in American foreign policy command the kind of bipartisan importance that the US-Israel relationship does. For me, that relationship is not only strategic or ideological, but it is also deeply personal.
On my most recent trip to Israel, my mother joined me for the first time. Watching her fall in love with Israel and its people was moving enough, but what happened next was unforgettable.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave her a shout-out on social media – an unexpected gesture that spoke to the warmth and openness of the Israeli people. That moment crystallized something I have always believed: support for Israel is not just a policy position, it’s a deep bond forged through shared sacrifice.
Currently, Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, a beacon of freedom and pluralism in a region that desperately needs both. For that reason, Congress has an obligation to continue supporting Israel and to do so in a way that transcends partisan divides.
Some say that bipartisan work on Israel is no longer possible. I disagree. One of the first pieces of legislation I introduced in Congress was done alongside my Democratic colleague, Congressman Brad Schneider. Together, we introduced the Promoting Education on the Abraham Accords for Comprehensive Engagement Act – the PEACE Act.
The PEACE Act is simple in its premise and powerful in its purpose. It directs the US State Department to institutionalize training on the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements, ensuring that future American diplomats understand both the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with expanding regional peace. The Abraham Accords reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East in a way few believed possible. They advanced coexistence, and fostered economic cooperation, making peace achievable.