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Engel joins Obama on trip to Israel
The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is joining President Obama on his first official trip to Israel.
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) will represent Congress on the president's first trip of his second term, flying with the president on Air Force One and participating in meetings with Israeli officials. He's also expected to attend the president's speech to university students in Jerusalem on Thursday, as well as the state dinner hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
“Israel is one of our closest allies in the world and President Obama’s visit is a powerful reminder of the unbreakable bonds between our two nations,” Engel said. “Israel continues to thrive as a nation, even as it is forced to confront a wide array of threats to its security, including Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the terrorist group Hizballah, and the civil war in neighboring Syria.
“There is no more powerful message to send across the world, to friends and foes alike, than a U.S. President standing shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people. I’m honored to bring the voices of the New Yorkers I represent and the U.S. Congress to Israel on this historic trip.”
Engel met with Vice President Biden and White House staff last week to discuss the president’s trip to the region.
