Rice, in Israel, meets Netanyahu on US relations

South Shore Rep. Kathleen Rice traveled to Israel last week as a member of a bipartisan Congressional delegation led by Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

In Jerusalem, the delegation met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, Minister of Defense Moshe Ya’alon and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. The delegation spoke with Netanyahu about Israeli counterterrorism efforts and the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel.

 “The support and the alliance with the United States is a foundation of our national security,” Netanyahu said during the meeting. “It’s a bipartisan position. It’s also bipartisan here. I think there’s complete unanimity about the importance of the relationship with the United States.”

 “Israel is our closest ally in the region, and every dollar we invest in Israel’s security is a direct investment in American homeland security,” said Rice.

“No matter how partisan the atmosphere in Washington has been or may become, we have a responsibility to ensure that support for Israel always remains a bipartisan priority.

“We made it clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we take that responsibility very seriously and we’re eager to continue working with him to enhance the security of both our countries and protect the people we serve.”

The delegation traveled to countries in the Middle East and Europe to examine evolving security threats to the U.S. homeland, including the flow of foreign fighters from Western countries to Syria and Iraq and recent terrorist plots and attacks against the United States and European allies.