50 States One Israel

50 States One Israel
DateSeptember 14–18, 2025 (2025-09-14 – 2025-09-18)
LocationJerusalem, Israel
Organized byIsraeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Participants241 American state legislators[1]

50 States One Israel was a conference held in Israel from September 14, 2025 to September 18, 2025[2] for state legislators from the United States and members of the Israeli government.[3][4] Hosted by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the conference was described as the largest delegation of elected officials to visit Israel.[3] According to Lior Haiat, Deputy Director for North America at the Foreign Ministry, lawmakers including state legislators from all 50 states were in attendance.[3]

Background

US state legislators began receiving invitations to the conference in early May 2025.[5] The conference, including travel, is paid entirely by the Israeli government.[5] According to a July 8, 2025 letter to Oregon Representative David Gomberg sent by Israel's consulate-general to the Northwest, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide "roundtrip economy airfare from New York to Tel Aviv (including domestic U.S. flights to NYC)," and "all in-country transportation, accommodations, meals, and guided programming."[2] Five lawmakers from each state were invited to attend.[6]

Conference

Attendees were scheduled to arrive on September 14, 2025 and depart September 18, 2025.[2]

On September 15, 2025, attendees visited the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.[7] Later, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar urged American lawmakers to pass anti-BDS laws in their states.[8] In the evening, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu gave a welcome address to the delegation.[9][10]

On September 16, 2025, attendees visited communities impacted by the October 7 attacks.[2][11]

On September 17, 2025, President of Israel Isaac Herzog addressed the delegation, saying that Israel's "ironclad bond with the United States of America [exists] because we drink from the same fountain: the values of the Bible".[12]

Attendees

50 States One Israel Delegation
State Legislator Party Source
Alaska Rep. Chuck Kopp Republican [13][14]
Alaska Rep. Neal Foster Democratic [13][14]
Alaska Sen. Bill Wielechowski Democratic [13][14]
Alaska Sen. Shelley Hughes Republican [14]
Arizona Rep. Frank Carroll Republican [15]
Arizona Rep. Quang Nguyen Republican [16]
Arizona Rep. Justin Wilmeth Republican [16]
Arkansas Rep. Brian Evans Republican
Arkansas Rep. Mindy McAlindon Republican
Arkansas Sen. Ben Gilmore Republican
Arkansas Sen. Breanne Davis Republican
California Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil Republican [17]
California Sen. Steven Choi Republican [17]
California Sen. Henry Stern Democratic [17]
California Rep. Tri Ta Republican [17]
California Sen. Suzette Valladares Republican [17]
Connecticut Stamford Board of Representatives member Maureen Pollack Democratic [18]
Connecticut Rep. Christie Carpino Republican [18]
Colorado Rep. Anthony Hartsook Republican [19]
Delaware Rep. Jeffrey Spiegelman Republican [20]
Delaware Sen. Darius J. Brown Democratic [20]
Delaware Rep. Bryan Shupe Republican [20]
Delaware Sen. Trey Paradee Democratic [20]
Delaware Rep. Melanie Ross Levin Democratic [20]
Florida Sen. Lori Berman (Delegation Co-Lead) Democratic [21]
Florida Rep. Michael Gottlieb Democratic [22]
Florida Rep. Dan Daley Democratic [22]
Florida Rep. Debra Tendrich Democratic [22]
Florida Rep. Dean Black Republican [23]
Georgia Rep. Brent Cox Republican [24]
Georgia Sen. Russ Goodman Republican [24]
Georgia Sen. Steve Gooch Republican [24]
Georgia Rep. Esther Panitch (Delegation Co-Lead) Democratic [24]
Georgia Rep. Yasmin Neal Democratic [24]
Hawaiʻi Rep. Diamond Garcia Republican [25]
Idaho Rep. Ilana Rubel Democratic [26]
Idaho Rep. John Shirts Republican [26]
Idaho Rep. Bruce Skaug Republican [26]
Idaho Rep. Barbara Ehardt Republican [26]
Idaho Rep. Josh Tanner Republican [26]
Kansas Rep. Barb Wasinger Republican
Kansas Rep. Dan Osman Democratic
Kansas Sen. Renee Erickson Republican
Kentucky Sen. Aaron Reed Republican [27]
Louisiana Rep. C. Travis Johnson Democratic [28]
Maine Sen. Matthew Harrington Republican [29]
Maine Rep. Alicia Collins Republican
Maine Rep. John E. Ducharme III Republican [30]
Maine Rep. Rachel A. Henderson Republican [31]
Maine Rep. Joshua Morris Republican
Maine Rep. Reagan Paul Republican
Maine Rep. Katrina Smith Republican [30]
Massachusetts Rep. Aaron Saunders Democratic [32]
Massachusetts Rep. Alan Silvia Democratic [33]
Massachusetts Sen. Becca Rausch Democratic [34]
Massachusetts Rep. Hannah Kane Republican [35]
Massachusetts Rep. David Muaradian Republican [35]
Massachusetts Sen. Peter Durant Republican [35]
Maryland Sen. Cheryl Kagan Democratic [36]
Maryland Rep. Nic Kipke Republican [37]
Maryland Sen. Mike McKay Republican [37]
Maryland Sen. Johnny Ray Salling Republican [37]
Michigan Rep. Noah Arbit Democratic [38]
Michigan Rep. Jaime Greene Republican [39]
Mississippi Sen. Jeremy England Republican [40]
Missouri Rep. Bishop Davidson Republican [41]
Missouri Rep. George Hruza Republican [42]
Missouri Rep. Ben Keathley Republican [41]
Missouri Rep. Ian Mackey Democratic [43]
Montana Rep. Randyn Gregg Republican [44]
Nebraska Sen. Kathleen Kauth Republican[a] [45]
Nebraska Sen. Robert Clements Republican[a] [45]
Nebraska Sen. Loren Lippincott Republican[a] [46]
Nebraska Sen. Dan Lonowski Republican[a] [46]
Nebraska Sen. Dan McKeon Republican[a] [46]
New Hampshire Sen. Tim Lang Republican [47]
New Jersey Sen. Robert Singer Republican [48]
New Mexico Sen. Jay Block Republican
New Mexico Sen. Ant Thornton Republican
New Mexico Rep. Stefani Lord Republican
New Mexico Rep. Rod Montoya Republican
New Mexico Rep. Jenifer Jones Republican
New York Assemb. William A. Barclay Republican [49]
New York Assemb. Anil Beephan Republican [50]
New York Assemb. Lester Chang Republican [49]
New York Assemb. Daniel Norber Republican [51]
New York Assemb. Amy Paulin Democrat [49]
North Dakota Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden Republican [21]
Ohio Rep. Jason Stephens Republican [52]
Ohio Rep. Melanie Miller Republican [52]
Ohio Rep. Ty Mathews Republican [52]
Ohio Rep. Eric Synenberg Democratic [52]
Oregon Rep. Emily McIntire Republican [53]
Oregon Rep. David Gomberg Democratic [2][53]
South Carolina Rep. Annie E. McDaniel Democratic [54]
South Dakota Sen. Greg Blanc Republican [55]
South Dakota Sen. John Carley Republican [56]
South Dakota Sen. Sue Peterson Republican [57]
South Dakota Rep. Leslie Heinemann Republican [58]
Texas Sen. Royce West Democratic [59]
Texas Rep. Alan Schoolcraft Republican [60]
Texas Rep. Katrina Pierson Republican [61]
Texas Rep. Carrie Isaac Republican [61]
Vermont Rep. Sarah "Sarita" Austin Democratic [62]
Vermont Rep. Matt Birong Democratic [63]
Vermont Rep. Gina Galfetti Republican [63]
Vermont Rep. Will Greer Democratic [63]
Vermont Rep. James Gregoire Republican [63]
Virginia Sen. Bryce Reeves Republican [36]
Virginia Sen. Russet Perry Democratic [64]
Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell Democratic [64]
Virginia Del. Phillip Scott Republican [64]
Washington Rep. Drew Stokesbary Republican [65]
West Virginia Sen. Tom Willis Republican [27]

Impact

The daughter of New Mexico State Senator Jay Block spoke out against her father's participation in the conference on social media stating: "It seems like he sold his soul to the devil and is now just peddling lies and propaganda... I just genuinely hope that this will be the end of my dad's political career...”[66] The two had not spoken since 2023 due to political differences, escalating to a public disagreement on seeing news of the State Senator’s attendance.[67]

Leading up to a potential government shutdown, Republican House Speaker Matt Hall of Michigan had instructed the Republican caucus not to leave the state while the budget was not completed and removed all bills from Representative Jaime Greene’s committee for her absence in attending the event.[68]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Nebraska's legislature is de jure nonpartisan but senators' political affiliations are publicly known and voting often happens along party lines; the de facto affiliations are given here.

References

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