Arutz Sheva: Congressional Israel Allies Caucus Celebrates Jerusalem Day on Capitol Hill

The Congressional Israel Allies Caucus held its annual commemoration of Jerusalem Day on Capitol Hill, which celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty. The event was held in cooperation with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and American Christian Leaders for Israel.

The Congressional Israel Allies Caucus includes more than 70 members and was the first bipartisan pro-Israel caucus in the U.S Congress. It was established in 2006 as the first “sister” Caucus to the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus in the Israeli Knesset. Today that network has expanded to 52 Caucuses in legislatures worldwide under the umbrella of the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF).

The Congressional caucus gathers annually on Capitol Hill to mark Jerusalem Day and reaffirm the importance of the US-Israel relationship. This year’s event included over 250 Jewish and Christian leaders from across America and highlighted the importance of faith-based diplomacy for Israel with Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel as the keynote speaker.

Longtime Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Doug Lamborn stated, “I am pleased to lead the celebration of Jerusalem Day alongside the Israel Allies Foundation. This event is particularly significant this year as we celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday, it allows us all to commemorate the significance of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and reiterate our commitment to religious freedoms in the home of the world’s holiest sites. Israel remains America’s greatest ally in the Middle East, and I will continue to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our two nations in my role as co-chair of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus.”

Rep. Lamborn recently co-led the introduction of the bipartisan United States – Israel Future of Warfare Act of 2023. The bill aims to further collaboration on emerging defense technologies between the United States and Israel.

Co-Chair of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus Rep. Brad Schneider remarked: “On May 14, 1948, the democratic State of Israel was founded. 75 years later, I’m proud to celebrate Jerusalem Day, marking the reunification of the city following the Six-Day War. Since 1948, Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel and for 3,000 years it has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people. The unbreakable, bipartisan bond between the United States and Israel has held fast since the U.S. was the first country to recognize the nascent state and I pray it will never fray.”

Rep. Brad Schneider most recently introduced a resolution aiming to expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords. It was passed on the eve of Israel's Independence Day with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Other Chairmen of the Caucus include Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ).

The event was coordinated by incoming IAF U.S. Director Jordanna McMillan who has worked in various roles for the organization since its office first opened in Washington, DC in 2011.

“I am proud to be taking on a new leadership role at the IAF. One of the first events I organized at the Foundation was Jerusalem Day in 2011. Our goal was to keep the promise the US made to Israel in 1995 and move the U.S. Embassy to its rightful location in Jerusalem. For 7 years the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus kept the issue on the political frontline and today we are proud to celebrate Jerusalem Day with our Embassy in Jerusalem,” said McMillan. “In light of the current environment and the rise of bold anti-Israel forces, I feel the bipartisan work of the Caucus is more important than ever. Today we gather together to declare that Jerusalem is and always will be, the indivisible capital of the Jewish people and that the Judeo-Christian values that bind our nations together will not be broken.”

IAF President Josh Reinstein said “The Congressional Israel Allies Caucus plays an important role in stressing the nonpartisan nature of the U.S - Israel alliance. Faith-based diplomacy unites congressmen across the political divide on the basis of their shared values, which includes support for Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the State of Israel.”

Read the article on Arutz Sheva here.