Friend,

I’ve just arrived back to the United States from the Middle East where, along with nine of my Senate colleagues, I met with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel. Our bipartisan delegation pressed Saudi Arabia and Egypt to serve as regional counterweights to Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah. We reaffirmed our unshakeable commitment to Israel as it fights to defend itself, and our belief that regional cooperation can limit civilian suffering.

I’d like to give you an update on the outcomes of this trip and speak to the national security inflection point in which our nation and its allies find ourselves.

Hamas is a hideous terrorist organization that launched an unspeakable, staggering assault on Israel beginning Oct 7. More than 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, were slaughtered in their homes or at a music festival. Hamas has taken hundreds of Israelis hostage, as well as other foreign nationals including Americans. I met with family members of these hostages while overseas, pledging America’s solidarity and support to return these loved ones home.

Similarly, in Europe, Vladimir Putin has launched unspeakable horrors on Ukraine. Ukrainians have been butchered, and their very democracy hangs in the balance as Putin, a ruthless tyrant, continues to wage war on Ukraine’s rightful sovereignty.

History teaches us if terror is left unchecked and unchallenged – if Israel and Ukraine fall to the likes of terrorists and tyrants – terror and tyranny will not stop at their borders. Our nation’s security interests are endangered in Israel and Ukraine. Democracies must unite against invasion. Standing with our allies is an investment in our own national security.

But America can’t bear the brunt of allyship alone. Just as we’ve led the world in rallying to Ukraine’s aid, we must use our influence to rally support for lifesaving humanitarian assistance for all who need it in Gaza and Israel, for Israel’s right to defend itself, and for long lasting peace and security in the Middle East.

That’s why the first stop for my Senate colleagues and I was Saudi Arabia, where we met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I’ve been an especially loud critic of the Saudi regime. I raised my concerns about their human rights abuses and pressed them for normalization of relations with Israel.

Saudi Arabia must demonstrate a serious commitment to peace and human rights, and that can begin by working with the United States as a partner in deterring Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah. 

In Israel, we reaffirmed our commitment to Israel, its right to defend itself, and the imperative to destroy Hamas. When meeting with Israelis whose family members had been taken hostage by Hamas, I saw my own family. I told them this. I have a cousin fighting in the IDF against Hamas.

After visiting with Egyptian President Sisi, I am very hopeful that Egypt will play an even greater role in enabling more assistance – fuel, water, electricity – to reach the people of Gaza who are suffering so desperately right now.

Having returned to Washington, I will do everything in my power to pass the broad aid package for Israel and Ukraine that President Biden has proposed. This package is exactly the right move. Israel and Ukraine need our support now to protect their independence, and this is what will deliver it.

Thank you,

Dick