CONGRESSIONAL TOUR
ISRAEL 2025
Every year, USIEA faces the daunting challenge of surpassing the previous Congressional Tour’s brilliance. The 2025 tour, elevated by the Speaker of the House’s presence for its opening days, redefined excellence, immersing Members of Congress in Israel’s ancient roots, modern struggles, and unyielding hope. From Jerusalem’s sacred stones to the scarred fields of the Gaza Envelope, this journey set a new standard, forging bonds that will shape America’s support for Israel’s future.
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SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON
56th Speaker of the House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House does not serve on any committees or particpate in any caucuses during their time as Speaker.
REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL
Texas 10th District
House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chairman Emeritus
House Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Emeritus
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REP. CLAUDIA TENNEY
New York 24th District
House Committee on Ways and Means
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Subcommittee on Health
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Subcommittee on Trade
House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
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Subcommittee on Energy
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House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
REP. MICHAEL CLOUD
Texas 27th District
House Appropriations Committee
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Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
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Subcommittee on Interior and Financial Services and General Government
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
REP. NATHANIEL MORAN
Texas 1st District
House Committee on Ways and Means
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Subcommittee on Oversight
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Subcommittee on Social Security
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Subcommittee on Work and Welfare
Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party
House Committee on Ethics
Day 1: Tisha B’Av – From Mourning to Redemption
Heather Johnston, USIEA Founder & President,
Teaches in the City of David
The USIEA delegation began on Tisha B’Av, the solemn Jewish fast commemorating the destruction of both Holy Temples. The first destruction was by the Babylonians in 587 BCE; the second destruction was by the Romans in 70 CE. Both events exiled the Jewish people from their God-given land. At the City of David, the archaeological core of ancient Jerusalem, Members of Congress saw firsthand how history and modern security intersect. The site reveals the biblical foundations of Jerusalem along with the tunnels running beneath the city which underscores its strategic significance today.
Meeting with IDF Heroes and Israeli Ministers
IDF heroes of the recent 12-Day War against Iran shared their stories: a pilot who obliterated Iranian nuclear facilities, an Arrow-3 anti-missile operator who intercepted missiles, and a naval specialist shielding southern Israel from Houthi drones. Their courage embodied Israel’s resilience. Meetings with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dissected the war’s lessons and Israel’s strategic future, emphasizing the need for unwavering U.S. partnership.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar with USIEA Delegation
​Western Wall
As Tisha B’Av waned, the delegation gathered at the Western Wall under a crimson sunset, the last vestige of the Second Temple, where, according to Jewish tradition, God’s spirit still lingers.
Western Wall with Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz
Day 2: Samaria – Heart of the Homeland
USIEA and Yesha Council Host Luncheon to Discuss the Future of Judea and Samaria
Day two was spent immersed in Samaria, a region USIEA uniquely showcases to Congress, revealing the biblical heartland’s vitality. Joined by Ambassador Mike Huckabee, his wife, and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the delegation arrived at the National Leadership Center in Ariel, Samaria’s thriving capital of 22,000. Yisrael Ganz, head of the Judea and Samaria Regional Council, articulated a bold vision for Israeli sovereignty. Huckabee’s speech in Ariel’s Leadership Center, under a grand big top hosting two dozen mayors from local Jewish towns, was a clarion call: “Israel’s desire is simply to live in the land God gave them 3,800 years ago.” His words stirred hearts with their simplicity and conviction.
Congressional Delegation at the National Leadership Center in Ariel
Heather Johnston, USIEA Founder & President, Speaks at Luncheon in Ariel
Shilo & Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
From Ariel, the group journeyed to Shilo, where the Tabernacle stood for 369 years. Its sanctity is a reminder of Israel’s eternal roots. At the archaeological excavation in Shilo, Members of Congress explored recent historical findings, including pottery shards that may have been used where the Tabernacle once stood. The excavation uncovers Israel’s biblical past and provides insight into the broader history of the region where the involvement of U.S. leaders can influence future stability. Amidst Shilo’s rolling hills, everyone felt the weight of history.
The day closed at Shilo Winery with an intimate dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife, and cabinet members. The discussion centered on an array of topics including Iran and the scourge of antisemitism, weaving personal connection with political vision.
Congressional Delegation Meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu
Day 3: Hebron – Dialogue and Devotion
The following day took the delegation to Hebron, Judea’s largest Arab city and a crucible of history. Sheikh Ashraf al-Jabari, a courageous advocate for peace despite Palestinian Authority opposition, welcomed the delegation into his home. ​
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Later joined by Economy Minister Nir Barkat, the delegation explored past and future Israel-Hebron relations, seeking paths to coexistence. Local and American yeshiva students greeted the Speaker, their black hats bobbing as they sang his praises, affirming Capitol Hill’s deep friendship with Israel and the Jewish People. Barkat’s vision of “Palestinian Emirates” – autonomous Arab towns forging peace with Israel and potentially joining the Abraham Accords – ignited hope for a new paradigm, challenging the outdated two-state model.
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Home of Sheikh Ashraf Al-Jabari
Speaker Johnson with Yeshiva Students
Day 4: Gaza Envelope – Confronting Tragedy
The next day was confronted with the Gaza Envelope, scarred by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre that killed 1,200 Israelis. Brigadier Elad Goren of COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) detailed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed nonprofit delivering 91 million meals to Gaza since May 2025 to bypass Hamas’s grip on UN aid. Ambassador Huckabee’s quip, “If Israel is committing genocide, it’s failing at it,” cut through false narratives. Goren's briefing further exemplified Israel's efforts to adequately supply aid to the Gazan population amidst a protracted war.
Briefing with Brigadier Elad Goren of COGAT
At Kfar Aza, a kibbutz of 950 residents prior to the attack, the delegation walked among ruins: 80 killed, 19 kidnapped, homes riddled with bullet holes and charred by fire. The place is a ghost-town. The “Young People’s Neighborhood” was nearly erased, baring scars of Hamas’s rocket-propelled grenades and an IDF tank’s desperate defense. Kibbutz leaders grapple with whether to rebuild or preserve it as a memorial: Should they honor memory or forge forward?
Kfar Aza
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The delegation then went to the Nova Music Festival site where 364 young people in attendance were slaughtered and 44 taken hostage to underground cells in Gaza. One survivor’s haunting tale of losing her partner etched the horror, a stark reminder of so many lost that day. A song sung by a group of American high-school students remained in everyone's ears long after they had left: “Our brothers who are being held captive, may God rescue them from darkness to light, from bondage to redemption, speedily in our days.”
Nova Festival Site with Survivor from Oct. 7
Day 5: Innovation and Security
Thursday showcased Israel’s innovation. Josh Wolfe of OurCrowd, Jerusalem’s $2.2 billion crowdfunding platform fueling 470+ startups, lauded USIEA’s policy lane for an FDA Field Office to bolster nearshoring medical supply lines to the Abraham Accords nations. Two AI-driven companies, one designing biological drugs and another extracting aerial imagery data, demonstrated Israel’s technological edge. Helicopters then carried the members to RAFAEL, one of Israel’s most famous defense contractors, where Iron Dome, Iron Beam, and the Golden Dome – America’s future missile defense – underscored Israel’s defense prowess.
Helicopter Briefing
At Mount Bental in the Golan Heights, overlooking Syria, Major (Res) Ilan Shulman’s briefing laid out the players in post-Assad Syria and warned against U.S. troop withdrawal.
Syrian Border Briefing
Day 6 & 7: Galilee Region
Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zahavi’s analysis of Lebanon warned that withdrawal would empower Hezbollah and undo much of Israel’s gains over the past year.
Furthermore, the delegation was briefed on the mass killings of the Druze community in Syria and the repercussions on the Israeli Druze community. Meeting with the Druze Sheikhs helped the delegation understand the broader impacts of the Syrian regime.
Rep. Claudia Tenney with the Druze Sheikhs
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The members were briefed on the ancient history of Galilee towns such as Capernaum, Tiberias, and Caesarea, and their modern relevance in the context of the conflict in northern Israel with Hezbollah. They also learned about the importance of ancient seaports in understanding the region’s history and the unique intersection of Jewish and Christian holy sites.​
Rep. Mike Cloud Walking on the Shores of the Sea of Galilee
Conclusion: A Transformative Odyssey
The 2025 USIEA Congressional Tour was the finest to date, an odyssey through Israel’s soul from the City of David’s ancient stones to Kfar Aza’s fresh wounds. The Members departed transformed, carrying lessons of resilience, innovation, and peace. Replicating this success in 2026 will be daunting, but that’s the USIEA way: pushing boundaries, igniting hope, and forging unbreakable bonds between the United States and Israel.
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We anticipate the lasting positive changes that will result from this Congressional Tour, and the USIEA team will continue to educate these members to help foster a strong U.S.-Israel collaboration.
