(The Center Square) – The governors of Texas and Oklahoma, both Republicans, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and other Israeli officials in Jerusalem to discuss ways that Texas and Oklahoma can continue supporting Israel.
“Texas has always, and will always, support Israel and the Israeli people,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “During this trip, I saw firsthand the resilient spirit of the Israeli people. The strength and hope displayed as I met with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, President [“Bougie”] Herzog, survivors of the October 7 attack, and families of kidnapped Israelis was truly inspiring. The resolve of Israel’s leaders and the bravery of its people have never wavered in the face of evil, and the people of Israel are once again uniting to vigorously fight to defend their freedom. Texas will continue to help support Israel safeguard their freedom against brutal terrorist organizations like Hamas.”
“Innocent Israelis have looked evil in the eyes and endured unthinkable hardships in the past few weeks, and I was inspired to see their resilience in the face of adversity,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said. “After witnessing the situation on the ground, I’ve never been more determined to stand with Israel and support their right to defend themself.”
The governors also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, a survivor of the Oct. 7 attack, and the family of an American citizen kidnapped and taken hostage by Hamas. Cohen said that one of Israel’s main objectives was to bring home all of the roughly 240 hostages. He also asked the governors to urge Congress to support Israel.
An Israeli funding package passed the House and is currently before the Senate. However, not waiting on Washington, D.C., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched his own initiative to bring home Americans, having brought home roughly 700 so far. The Florida legislature also called a special legislative session to advance additional sanctions against Iran.
Abbott and Stitt also met with a former Israel Defense Forces chief who discussed how Israel is responding to ongoing threats posed by Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. He said they “are no longer just terrorist organizations – but full-fledged terrorist militaries,” according to a press release issued by Abbott.
Herzog emphasized that Israel is being threatened by a regional coalition of nations surrounding it, not just from Hamas and Hezbollah. The coalition, he said, also threatens U.S. national security.
Herzog made a similar argument in an op-ed published by the New York Times, saying, “This is not a battle between Jews and Muslims. And it is not just between Israel and Hamas. It is between those who adhere to norms of humanity and those practicing a barbarism that has no place in the modern world.
“Just like ISIS and Al Qaeda, the Hamas terrorists who attacked Israeli homes and families had no qualms about burning babies. They tortured children, raped women and destroyed peace-loving communities. They were so proud of their deeds that they made sure to capture them on video and even broadcast them live.
“But almost as disturbing for me is the realization that many in the world, including in the West, are willing to rationalize these actions or even support them outright.”
Stitt expressed similar sentiments in a news release, stating, “In our own nation, antisemitism is on the rise – and we have a responsibility to stick up for our Jewish brothers and sisters, to call out hate when we see it and extinguish it.”
Also recognizing that antisemitism is on the rise in the U.S. and in Texas, Abbott and the Texas legislature took additional action to protect Jewish residents.
The governors also met with survivors of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center – Ichilov Hospital, with Israeli soldiers, and with displaced Israelis at a hotel in Jerusalem. They heard “countless stories of heroism, generosity, and selflessness among the Israeli people amid the ongoing war, including firsthand accounts of strangers opening their homes to evacuees, communities organizing food banks, and everyday citizens quickly volunteering to join the military.”
