Baumgartner Returns from Bipartisan Congressional Delegation Visit to Israel

WASHINGTON- Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Middle East Subcommittee, has returned to the United States following a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to Israel.

During the visit, Baumgartner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, engaging in discussions about joint missile defense cooperation, regional stability, and the shared threat posed by Iran and its proxy militias. He also participated in high-level briefings with Israeli defense officials and peace negotiators.

“Visits like this are essential for shaping effective U.S. foreign policy,” said Congressman Baumgartner. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent Eastern Washington and help ensure that American leadership abroad continues to support peace, security, and prosperity.”

The bipartisan group visited the tragic site of the October 7 Nova music festival massacre, where Hamas terrorists brutally murdered hundreds of innocent young people. Reflecting on the experience, Congressman Baumgartner said, “Standing at the site of such senseless violence was heartbreaking. It reinforces why the United States must stand firmly with Israel in the fight against terrorism.”

The trip also included visits to several of Israel’s most sacred historical and religious sites. Baumgartner joined Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to visit the Sea of Galilee. As a Catholic, Baumgartner described this moment as deeply meaningful.

“Israel is a special place with special people, and I deeply value the country’s enduring friendship with America,” said Congressman Baumgartner. “We stand united against terror and committed to ensuring peace and security in the region.”

A longtime student of the region, Baumgartner first traveled to the Middle East 30 years ago to study in Syria and Jordan. He emphasized how this visit reaffirmed his dedication to counterterrorism efforts and his belief in the possibility of peace for all people in the region.

“As someone who first studied in the Middle East three decades ago, this trip was personally moving and professionally impactful. It filled me with renewed optimism that people of every religion deserve peace, and that, one day, they will find it.”