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The trip, which was set to be reimbursed by the Israeli government, cost $6,500 per lawmaker.
Six Massachusetts lawmakers took a free trip to Israel as part of a wider U.S. delegation in September “to experience it as it truly is,” the Israeli government said, as Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza City.
“You can read the news stories. You can watch it on TV. You can read the articles, but until you’re there, until you look somebody in the eye, and they tell you what happened, and you see that pain, you see where they live, you see burnt down or bombed out houses, it’s hard to actually understand,” Republican state Sen. Peter Durant said in an interview.
Three Democrats and three Republicans representing both the House and Senate attended “50 States One Israel” alongside 250 local state legislators from across the country. The conference, held from Sept. 14 through Sept. 18, was the largest-ever delegation of American lawmakers to the country, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Democratic State Sen. Rebecca Rausch, of Needham, and Durant, of Spencer, represented the Massachusetts Senate at the conference. Democratic state Reps. Aaron Saunders and Alan Silvia and Republican state Reps. Hannah Kane and David Muradian also attended, according to statements, ethics disclosures, and photos from the trip.
Rausch, Durant, Saunders, Kane, and Muradian all responded to requests for comment, most lauding it as an impactful and educational experience. Silvia did not respond, but could be seen in an image shared by Israel Boston of lawmakers from across New England.
The trip likely cost $6,500 per lawmaker, according to Rausch’s reconciliation statement filed with the States Ethics Commission. Durant filed the only other disclosure related to the trip, which did not confirm the cost but included an itinerary. Durant’s disclosure noted the cost would be reimbursed by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In an interview, Durant confirmed the $6,500 figure and said it was his first trip abroad in an official capacity.
Lawmakers met Israeli president, heard Netanyahu speech
During the lawmakers’ visit, a United Nations commission said Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Days after the conference, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, and other Western nations recognized a Palestinian state, a move Israel has opposed. Durant said Israel addressed international criticism at the conference.
“They’re having a difficult time with the PR portion of this, the PR war,” Durant said. “There’s two sides to this story. … It’s important for them that people understand what happened,” he said, referring to Oct. 7.
Rausch, who is Jewish, said she chose to attend “to learn the reality on the ground with my own eyes and ears (and) to ask tough questions of political leadership in Israel.”
“We forged new relationships, strengthened existing connections, and had meaningful conversations across chambers and party lines with colleagues in our own states and nationally,” Rausch said, “demonstrating how politics and democracy should operate — not with rhetoric and demonization, but with discourse and cooperation.”
According to the trip itinerary, lawmakers toured the Old City of Jerusalem and visited the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, the Israeli parliament, and the site of the music festival attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Lawmakers also met with the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and representatives from Israeli companies.
Rausch voices ‘disappointment’ with trip, others emphasize economics
Some of the trip was disappointing and concerning, Rausch said. She was unable to ask Netanyahu and Israeli officials questions after their speeches and couldn’t meet with “members of the opposition coalition or any of the hostage families,” she said in a statement.
“I am an American who disagrees with many decisions and actions of the current American federal administration, and I stand with many of my constituents in that opposition. I am a Jew who disagrees with many decisions and actions of the current Israeli administration, and I stand with droves of Israelis and many of my constituents in that opposition,” Rausch said.
Kane, a Republican from Shrewsbury, added that she met with survivors of Oct. 7 and “everyday people” who shared their thoughts about how to move toward peace in the region.
“Just like the United States, Israel is not a monolithic, one group think society – it is a robust democracy,” she wrote. “Like the United States, Israeli people believe that democracies need to continue to be in dialogue both when we are in agreement, and especially when we are not.”
In his statement, Saunders said the trip strengthened “deep cultural and economic ties” between the country and the Bay State. Durant also pointed to Israel as a trading partner with Massachusetts.
“Technology and money flows back and forth between Israel and Massachusetts for advancements, for technology, for businesses, startups, entrepreneurship. So those kind of ties are important,” Durant said. “You should know about what it is that Israel and Massachusetts actually have to offer each other.”
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