Today I met with Israeli Defense and Intelligence officials. We had a frank discussion on the pervasive threats against Israel which underscores the importance of strong American support for this Democractic nation. We cannot afford complacency and need to support actively and strongly our ally Israel - not only through critical defense programs like Arrow 3 - which I am proud to have helped secure funding for through my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee - but also through intelligence sharing. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee I look forward to supporting initiatives that will enhance this cooperation further.
Later in the afternoon I met with the Israeli Aerospace Industry - or IAI. Not only is IAI the largest employer in the country, they are also the primary Israeli company that designs, engineers and deploys weapons systems that will help keep the Israeli people safe from hostile attacks and deter agressors in the region such as Iran. This cutting-edge company has cooperative partnerships with American companies and I urged IAI to expand their U.S. partnership to include Missouri. With a skilled workforce, central location, and strong research and development base in engineering, Missouri is primed for future cooperation. This means jobs for Missourians and the development of defense systems that will ensure Israel maintains its military qaulitative edge.
In addition to these critical security issues, my staff was able to visit the Holy City where they met with Consular officials. Jerusalem is truly a city that blends ancient history with the modern world.
From Jerusalem, my staff traveled into the West Bank to the city of Bethlehem. There, they were hosted by Dr. Robert Tabash, a dedicated Christian and Director of the Holy Family Hospital. This hospital is an oasis of peace and hope in a long-troubled region. Serving pregnant women and their newborn babies, Holy Family Hospital is a model of what humanitarian assistance - regardless of religion or ethnicity - can accomplish. The Hospital has done amazing work with high-risk pregnancies and in-caring for the region's sickest babies in their state-of-the-art Neonantal Intensive Care Unit. From the maintenance crew to the dedicated staff of doctors, the folks at Holy Family Hospital are dedicated to promoting peace through serving the poor. I have been proud to support funding for Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem and Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem.
While I am disappointed my trip to Israel was so brief this time, spending time on the ground with the folks on the ground was invaluable. In the upcoming weeks I look forward to sitting down with Missouri's Jewish communities to dialogue further about my trip and to discuss the state of current affairs and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. I pledge to continue my longstanding support for the State of Israel and its people.
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