The Tennessee General Assembly launched a bipartisan and bicameral legislative caucus to “enhance the ties between Tennessee and Israel” on Monday.
The new Tennessee-Israel Legislative Caucus is headed by co-chairs State Representatives Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) and Torrey Harris (D-Memphis), and State Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon).
The caucus, according to a release sent to The Tennessee Star, will “serve as a platform to further foster strong bilateral ties, mutual understanding, and collaborative initiatives between the State of Tennessee and the State of Israel.”
Efforts of the caucus will aim to “strengthen political, economic, and cultural bonds for the mutual benefit of both regions,” with specific goals such as “advancing trade relations, facilitating educational exchanges, and promoting cultural understanding to enhance the overall relationship between Tennessee and Israel.”
Cepicky said the new Tennessee-Israel Legislative Caucus will “foster an environment of collaboration and allow for an incredible exchange of ideas to make life better for Tennesseans and Israelis.”
Pody agreed, adding, “This caucus will be able to strengthen that relationship between Tennessee and Israel. Israel has been one of the absolute strongest allies that Tennessee and our nation has.”
Anat Sultan-Dadon, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States, attended the caucus’ launch ceremony at the state capitol on Monday.
“This moment is a reflection of the unique friendship between our states and peoples, a friendship rooted in shared values, mutual interests, and a commitment to realizing the full potential of our relations,” Sultan-Dadon said.
Sultan-Dadon was further honored and commended by state lawmakers on Monday after the general assembly passed House Joint Resolution 313 applauding her efforts in “building stronger ties” between Tennessee and the people of Israel.
The new Tennessee-Israel Legislative Caucus comes as the Tennessee Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee is set to vote on a resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 002, next week that states lawmakers’ support for the Nation of Israel.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
