House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) named Tennessee U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) as chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group on Friday.
McCarthy committed to forming a Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Israeli Knesset during a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to Israel earlier this year. This week’s group formation follows last week’s Joint Meeting of Congress with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
I want Congress and the Knesset to work together as closely as possible.
That's why I'll establish a House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group – so we can continue to strengthen our bonds, build mutual understanding as elected representatives, and work better together. pic.twitter.com/KdEFtsvd7V
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) May 1, 2023
“For the first time in history, the 435 members of the House and the 120 members of the Knesset have a forum to engage directly with one another, seek solutions that benefit our nations, and faithfully represent our peoples’ hopes and dreams together,” McCarthy said in a statement.
Kustoff will lead a bipartisan group of 11 other lawmakers to engage more directly with Israel’s Knesset, traveling to Israel on a bipartisan basis, and host Knesset members who travel to America.
I am honored to be named Chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group.
I applaud @SpeakerMcCarthy for establishing this group to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and build a better understanding of our two democracies.
More: https://t.co/YkiVie4WfZ
— Rep. David Kustoff (@RepDavidKustoff) July 28, 2023
“I am honored to be appointed Chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group,” Kustoff stated. “I applaud Speaker McCarthy for establishing this group tasked with strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and building a better understanding of our two democracies. Now more than ever, it is imperative we show the rest of the world that the United States stands firmly with our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East, Israel. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this important initiative.”
McCarthy said he was “proud” to name Kustoff as the group’s chairman, adding, “Since coming to Congress, David has acted and spoken forcefully about the need to support Israel on a bipartisan basis and condemn anti-semitism, which is unfortunately on the rise.”
“Today, as the co-chair of the House Republican Israel Caucus, he is leading the efforts to strengthen our relationship with Israel. I am confident that his leadership on the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group will further bolster our bonds with Israel, build mutual understanding, and forge a brighter future for our two democracies,” McCarthy added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Why only a Friendship Group? Let’s just join together for one cause under one rule. We can combine the United States and Israel as one democracy and call it, Israel.