August 8, 2011 12:03 AM

Report: 81 congressmen going to Israel on break

By
Joshua Norman
Topics
Congress
Congress using "mini-deal" to delay debt ceiling compromise

Capitol Hill

Perhaps seeking a salty dip in the Dead Sea to end a stressful debt debate, nearly one in five members of the House in Representatives will use their summer recess period to visit Israel, The Jerusalem Post reports.

Of the 81 heading over, 55 are Republicans and 26 are Democrats, The Post reports. Half of the freshmen Republican reps - 47 of them - make up that group, and many of them will be visiting Israel for the first time.

Among the Democrats heading over is Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who will be there for an eight-day visit, the Associated Press reports.

Jackson, like most congressmen on the sponsored trip, is scheduled to meet with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The famous civil rights leader's son told the AP that he's looking forward to learning about Israel's business and commercial sectors as well as the latest tools and technology the country is using in its fight against terror.

Almost all of the week-long trips are sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, which promotes similar trips for Congress every other August, the Post reports.

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer will head the Democratic delegation, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will lead one of the Republican groups.

American Israel Education Foundation is a supporting organization of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, which describes itself on its website as "America's leading pro-Israel lobby...AIPAC works with both Democratic and Republican political leaders to enact public policy that strengthens the vital U.S.-Israel relationship."


  • Joshua Norman

    Joshua Norman is an associate editor at CBSNews.com.

Add a Comment See all 139 Comments
by fredmertz52 August 12, 2011 1:03 PM EDT
It should read, the greedy, incompetent American hate group heads to Israel to collect their paycheck. $3 BILLION in aid money goes to Israel. No wonder America is in decline.
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by MoveOnWakeup August 11, 2011 8:20 PM EDT
Keep in mind that Israel have its tentacles across the globe they are financed by USA citizens that like dumb animals give away billions while at the same time allowing Israel to decide who USA troops should kill next all countries around Israel are being systematically destroyed by Israel run USA government and military complex along with USA run NATO.
These congressmen need to go to Israel to take bow in front of their Israel masters, otherwise; these congressmen will never be reelected. You may Google two former Congressmen (Jim Traficant and David Duke) that refused to visit Israel and revealed the Israel power over USA.
Reply to this comment
by sasboy-2009 August 11, 2011 6:33 PM EDT
Shame on every single one of these Congressmen for showing themselves to be more interested in securing the interests of an brutal apartheid occupier than in the well being of their domestic constituents.
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by DidHeSayThat August 9, 2011 4:44 PM EDT
Let us hope they stay there.
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by GVJaneAz August 10, 2011 4:37 PM EDT
Hey, I watched the Gene Simmons show where he went back to Haifa..his birthplace....gorgeous place to vacation, and actually wouldn't mind living there! Safer than here!
by alinrodneyvil August 9, 2011 10:08 AM EDT
The Tail Wags the Dog.
Reply to this comment
by MaryPresumptuous August 9, 2011 11:29 AM EDT
Right: Politicians making and enjoying special rules enabling them to enjoy riches their constituencies cannot. Another example of Congress(wo)men ...
a) not participating in Social Security: have their own system
b) not part of Medicare: have their own health plan
c) not paying taxes on "income" exempt for them but not JoePublic
...
by pr_boxer August 9, 2011 5:50 AM EDT
Talk about "corruption", "waste",and "deceit" how dare they at this time? The lousy, low down crooks go on vacation to be wined, dined, and "other" pleasures. The whole bunch should be held up for public criticism.
Reply to this comment
by charlesfrith August 8, 2011 8:15 PM EDT
This isn't news this is business as usual. Reap as ye sow.
Reply to this comment
by m4surveys August 8, 2011 8:56 PM EDT
Gotta line up those campaign contributions (bribes) for next year!
by fawltybean August 8, 2011 6:40 PM EDT
Well I am for one not surprised. Majority of the US politicians specially the Jewish ones represent Israel in the US Congress.If you people for a minute thought they are representing you, you don't know anything about politicians.

Eric Cantor will give the Israeli Govt. and the other politicians a very thorough update about govt. affairs. Cantor will also give them an update in person, how he has all these stupid uneducated red neck Tea Partiers to support them and how he plans to beat Obama in 2012 with their help.
Reply to this comment
by MaryPresumptuous August 9, 2011 11:22 AM EDT
Senator McCarthy? I thought you died and took your -ism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism) with you ...
by GVJaneAz August 10, 2011 4:42 PM EDT
Do believe your assumptions are flawed....fawltybean. The Israel Jews are more conservative than these no-brain twits in this Country. Better thank God we have them on our side, and we should show them more respect than the Obama Administration has. He thinks sucking up to Muslims will make him a big hero...while it is making our Country a big target. THANK GOD FOR ISRAEL!!!
by MarineVet46 August 8, 2011 5:48 PM EDT
I wonder how much more deficit spending these pimps are going to run up on their trip to the Apartheid Israeli Welfare State???????

This report provides an overview of U.S. foreign assistance to Israel. It includes a review of past
aid programs, data on annual assistance, and an analysis of current issues. For general
information on Israel, see CRS Report RL33476, Israel: Background and Relations with the
United States, by Carol Migdalovitz. For information on overall U.S. assistance to the Middle
East, see CRS Report RL32260, U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical
Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2011 Request, by Jeremy M. Sharp.
Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. From
1976-2004, Israel was the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, having since been
supplanted by Iraq. Since 1985, the United States has provided nearly $3 billion in grants
annually to Israel.
Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance. In the past, Israel also
had received significant economic assistance. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted
in Israel's receiving benefits not available to other countries. For example, Israel can use some
U.S. military assistance both for research and development in the United States and for military
purchases from Israeli manufacturers. In addition, all U.S. foreign assistance earmarked for Israel
is delivered in the first 30 days of the fiscal year. Most other recipients normally receive aid in
installments. Congress also appropriates funds for joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs
Reply to this comment
by Lindag10 August 8, 2011 4:25 PM EDT
I tried to discover if my freshman Republican representative is on the trip and his office claimed they "didn't reveal this sort of information" for "security reasons". Dollars to donuts he's on the trip. What a cover up by his office.
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