Rep. D'Esposito Returns From 'Eye-Opening' Bipartisan Israeli Trip

ISLAND PARK, NY — A bipartisan delegation from Congress just returned from Israel, celebrating the nation's 75th anniversary of independence and maintaining the commitment from the U.S.

Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-Island Park) in his first months as a congressman was part of the trip, led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

"It was definitely an experience I will never forget," D'Esposito told Patch.

Along with the official business, D'Esposito got to be a tourist at the Wailing Wall and toured other historic locales in Jerusalem's Old City.

He watched as McCarthy became only the second speaker to deliver remarks to the Knesset; they had lunch with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and met with the Israeli president.

"It was a lot packed into 48 hours," he said.

But the journey was more than showing America's support for Israel; D'Esposito said the ripples are felt in his district.

"One of the biggest negotiators of the Abraham Accords is a 4th Congressional District constituent and neighbor. I got to spend some time with Ambassador David Friedman," he said.

Friedman, grew up in the Five Towns, "probably one of the most concentrated Orthodox Jewish communities, I would argue, in the country," D'Esposito said.

"It is important for our neighbors, whether they're Jewish or not, to know that we consider Israel one of our greatest allies," D'Esposito said.

Another important point about the continual link to Israel is not shying away from the rise of anti-Semitism in this country. D'Esposito said that was made crystal clear to him as he visited the Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem).

"We need to work to fight against all hate, not just anti-Semitic attacks against the Jewish people, but hate in general.

The overseas excursion started in Jordan, and dinner with King Abdullah II.

For D'Esposito, the "eye-opening" Middle East trip was accentuated by seeing several of his constituents.

"You can be so far from home, but still run into people that call this district home and think speaks volumes about how important it is," he said.