ICYMI: Senator Collins, Bipartisan Delegation Hold Press Conference in Israel

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ remarks.

Click HERE to watch the full press conference. 

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, and a bipartisan group of five Republican and five Democratic Senators held a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel.

A transcript of Senator Collins’ remarks follows:

“I too want to thank Senator Graham for bringing us together in a bipartisan show of support for the one democracy in the Middle East – Israel. 

“Before leaving on this trip, I met with the families of some of the hostages that Hamas has taken.  And today, all of us met with a group of families of hostages.  And I cannot stop thinking about a little three-year-old girl named Abigail who has been taken hostage by Hamas.  This is her picture, which was given to me both in Washington, and I brought on this trip, and met more of her relatives today.  Her older sister and brother, ages six and nine, hid for 14 hours in a closet to escape Hamas.  Her mother was murdered, and her father was murdered as he was trying to rush little Abigail away. 

“What kind of people commit such atrocities?

“This is not a close call.  This is a clear case.  Hamas is a terrorist group, and we must do all that we can to support Israel in its quest to eliminate Hamas.

“I serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  In that capacity, I will be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in support of the Biden Administration's request for $14 billion to assist Israel as it defeats Hamas. 

“It is not only in Israel's interest.  It's not only in the interest of the countries in this region.  It's in America's interest.  It's in the interest of our world.”

Members of the bipartisan delegation include U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and John Thune (R-South Dakota).

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