Schumer To Lead Bipartisan Delegation To Israel

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will embark on a bipartisan mission of lawmakers to Israel to sit down with the new unity government. He is expected to discuss U.S. support for the nation in the wake of the recent deadly terror attack.

Schumer is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history. A spokesperson said he is leading the delegation to highlight “the United State’s unwavering support for Israel.”

He will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several other political leaders. As Israel conducts war against the Hamas terrorist organization, Schumer will discuss assistance the nation can expect from the U.S. 

The identities of the lawmakers who will accompany the Majority Leader were not revealed.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Israel since the attack. Schumer’s visit comes just before Congress will consider specific financial and military support. 

The Senate is ready to return to the capital on Tuesday and will certainly discuss how much aid of various types will be supplied to Israel. Some anticipate efforts by leaders to tie this assistance to aid earmarked for Ukraine’s war with Russia.

Schumer was in China in the days after the terror attack but ended his trip prematurely due to the conflict in the Middle East. He met with President Xi Jinping Thursday ahead of a possible state visit from President Joe Biden in November. 

While in China, Schumer pressured Beijing to take a stronger stand in support of Israel after over a thousand civilians were killed by Hamas terrorists.

Meanwhile, Israel’s response is heating up as a land invasion of the Gaza Strip commenced. 

Government officials told roughly one million people in the northern region to evacuate as the ground offensive sought to root out terrorists.

Despite some resistance from far-left fringe politicians, Washington appears to be clearly behind supporting Israel’s retribution for the terror attacks. The reaction by the Arab world to the massive offensive that is coming will be important for the future of the region.

With this in mind, U.S. diplomacy will play a critical role in containing or pouring gasoline on the Middle Eastern fire. The question is whether the Biden administration is up to this task.