It was a privilege to be part of the largest diplomatic delegation ever to visit the state of Israel.
The 250 State legislators were a contingent of Republicans and Democrats who traveled from every state in America.
While in Israel, we visited Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holy sites as well as the site where the Nova Festival massacre took place, and where over 400 young partygoers were murdered, and where hundreds more were raped, tortured, and taken hostage by the Hamas terrorist group.
We also visited the Be’eri Kibbutz, where farmers, with just 10 rifles allowed in the entire community, were viciously slaughtered by thousands of terrorists. Many of them had to watch as their children were burned alive in front of them. The burned and bullet-riddled homes in the kibbutz were a shock to our sense,s and they stand today as a monument to the blind hatred so many have towards Israel and the Jewish community.
The invasion by Hamas on October 7th was just one front of the coordinated attack on Israel. While Hamas attacked from the ground, Hezbollah and the Houthis attacked Israel from the air with rockets and drones, which were provided by the Iranian regime.
Their determination to destroy Israel continues to this day. While we were in Israel, our delegation had to seek protective shelter 3 times in 5 days due to rockets launched towards us.
As we travel home, we have been made aware of a protest against the false claim of genocide of Palestinians. If Israel has genocidal intent, they’re sure bad at it. Just one day of bombing Gaza (with the capabilities the Israeli army has) would utterly destroy them, but instead, the IDF does everything possible to avoid killing Gazan civilians who are being used as human shields.
They strive to limit casualties by warning Gazans ahead of time to leave battle zones with millions of text messages, phone calls, dropping leaflets, and by making smaller targeted attacks.
Since the beginning of the war, Israel has made it clear that Hamas must return all of the hostages, including 2 Americans, for the war to end. Once this happens, the war will end, and rebuilding can start for both sides.
Unfortunately, Hamas has no intention of keeping any cease-fire deal. They prefer to sacrifice their own people in order to gain sympathy from the unknowing public.
If we’re being honest, Americans would never put up with daily rocket fire into our country or the blatant torture, rape, and murder of our women and children by neighboring countries.
Venezuelan Narco-Terrorists who are flooding our streets with their poison should take note of this.
Israel must be allowed to protect their citizens, as well as the 750,000 Americans who live within their borders; as a matter of fact, the United States should demand it.
Although this op-ed appears under the Piñon Post byline, it was authored by members of the New Mexico Delegation that recently traveled to Israel. The Delegation includes Sens. Jay Block and Ant Thornton and Reps. Rod Montoya, Stefani Lord, John Block, and Jenifer Jones.
The leftists/socialists/Marxists/Communists in our country will never accept the truth that Hamas is prolonging this war and will never accept peace as long as Israel continues to exist. Those brainwashed, brain-dead leftist subhumans have hearts that are filled with hatred that will never be cleansed. Too bad they can’t be deported to Gaza.
This is truly pathetic. Bussed around the country and feted by dignitaries for a few days and you come back believing you see the whole truth. This sort of junior-high enthusiasm is why our hope can never be placed in elected officials. Not wanting to presume, I will simply say that I doubt that any of this group has studied, in unbiased fashion, the history of the establishment of the modern State of Israel, which bears no relationship, other than in name, to Israel of the Bible. It is a state founded in terrorism. Shameful and, indeed, embarrassing to read this column.
Not that it will make much difference to most of your readers, but I am neither a “leftist” nor an anti-Semite. Nor am I “pro-Palestinian”. I deplore the Shoah just as I deplore the Nakba. I deplore apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide irrespective of the ethnicity of the victims or the perpetrators.
First, I am not anti-Israel. You need to realize that Israel created Hamas in the 90’s so they didn’t have to deal with Yassir Arafat and the PLO and they have continued to fund Hamas. They refuse to answer the question of why it took eight hours to respond on October 7th when you can drive across Israel in six hours??
All of you that went should ask the question “what is Netanyahu”s purpose?” Since when did Israel become the capitol of our 50 states? I thought it was America first! I know it was an expense free trip, but who funds Israel? I believe we do.
On the surface, in my opinion, this appears to be a bloodless (?) coup of the United States. So, I ask all of you who went, are you American first or are you like Ted Cruz and Israel first? Yes, he actually said Israel first.
Jesus spent most of his ministry scolding the Pharisees and to some extent the Jewish people for lying and deception. Remember, Jesus was executed under deception, lies and for money! I suggest all of you go read the Bible slowly and with much thought.
Great comments, Mike. Spot on.
The State of Israel is a modern democracy amidst either despotic or authoritarian governments. America stood by Israel when it was established in 1948 and I remain convinced that they represent progress in the region. I am thankful that there are representatives who are willing to visit the region before they pontificate. Further, I am hopeful that our officials can think for themselves regardless of their hosts as it is extremely difficult to move about the region without hosts.
I stand with Israel
Yep.
The Israel Defense Forces are in Gaza not to exterminate innocent civilians, but to prevent Hamas from exterminating innocent Israelis
I am heartened to see non-homogeneous comments in response to this article.
Who’s the expansionist? Who wants to ‘develop’ the coastline of Gaza? Who wants to seize the oil off its shore, like we ‘took the oil’ from Syria and from Iraq, that we wrecked?
How many civilians have died in Gaza?
I wish my representatives would return to Christianity and follow Jesus.
John 7:1 After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.
any representative who attends the 50 states of israel conference is a traitor. hamas is israel. America First, not israel first. The people of gaza are being murdered in cold blood, starved and brutalized. wake up people, this is the same thing they have planned for the rest of the world
How much of my tax dollars were spent on your vacation?! You didn’t see ANY truth. You were spoon-fed lies. Netanyahu played you for the buffoons you’ve proven yourselves to be.
How dare you make Israel more important than the US!?
Sell outs.
Terrorism has thrived against Isreal for decades, the government of Gaza started the war and they could end it.
Dudes, I agree the people of Gaza are being slaughtered and there leadership is far away and food is being sold to the people of Gaza that the sellers received or stole for free. It seams like the mom and dad issue, no one is right and no one is wrong. We just need peace. I have talked to Palestinians in the US said that Isreal is not the bad folks as Palestinians work in Isreal and are happy. I am just tired of the lies and not being able to pick out the truth. Sad, sad, sad.
Mike, years ago I was much like you. I really did not know the truth of the matter. I just went with the flow and accepted that Israel was the “good guy” in a sea of “bad guys”. I’d not try to convince anyone myself. All I would do is recommend that people, like you, who are interested and confused, just take a step back and study a bit. Just learn the history of the Zionist movement, to begin with. Then study those years just prior to 1948 and ask yourself who the “terrorists” were. In particular, study the Nakba. This would be a good start, because there is a definite “right” and “wrong” in this matter.
When people we want to impress come to America, we take them to Disneyland not to the tenderloin or skid row where they can see the real America. Israel does the same thing. I’m sure the starving children of Gaza was not on the itinerary. the sanitized junket that these politicians took was just that, a ruse costing taxpayers millions. Even if Israel “paid”for it it’s still our tax dollars since we subsidize everything Israel spends to the tune of billions. Our Israel first politicians can now be assured that aipac money will continue flowing and they will be given a media halo for their treasonous behavior!
Spot on, as always, Norteno.
I am thoroughly disappointed in you and pinon post. None are so blind as those who will not see. To support the corruption of Netanyahu and Israel is unthinkable. The US supports that corruption. It is not a left/right issue. It is a human rights issue. And you are on the wrong side.
The bandits Butch Cassidy (republicans) and Sundance (democrats) occasionally stop to look in the distance at their pursuers, and comment between themselves as they are being chased by a relentless posse (America First, realnickjfuentes on Rumble). ….. “Who are those guys?”