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Dear A.,


Bipartisan congressional leaders met today with Prime Minister Netanyahu, reaffirming strong support for Israel on both sides of the aisle.


Netanyahu
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met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI) and John Fetterman (D-PA).







Following the meeting, Blumenthal said, "I think there is, very impressively, a unified feeling that Iran is the main obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East and the world."


Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, "It was a very candid meeting... I think everybody, both sides, came away with a better understanding of where we are now."


In the meetings, Netanyahu encouraged the senators to advance legislation to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which passed the House with strong bipartisan support last month.


Tonight, President Donald Trump signed an
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executive order sanctioning the ICC for its outrageous efforts to prosecute Israel's leaders and threaten American troops.


The order puts financial and visa-related sanctions on individuals who assist the ICC in its investigations of U.S. citizens or our allies, including Israel, and their immediate family members.

Bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship makes both countries safer, stronger and more prosperous.

Israeli security services prevent terrorist attacks

Israeli security services
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announced today that they prevented a suicide attack on a bus in Jerusalem, arresting members of a terrorist cell in November and December of 2024 who were planning to carry it out.


The terrorist cell was made up of members of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement as well as Hamas operatives based in the Ramallah area.


Meanwhile, Israeli media
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reported that over the past month, Israel has thwarted 90 major Palestinian terrorist attacks.


An Israeli security official said that Iran is supplying weapons and financial aid to terrorists, dramatically escalating the threat posed to Israelis.


Israel's counterterror operation in the West Bank, Operation Iron Wall, is now in its 16th day. So far, around 50 terrorists have been killed, and more than 100 wanted suspects arrested.

Iran inaugurates its first drone-carrier warship

Iran has inaugurated its first
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drone-carrier warship , manned by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.


Iranian state media said the ship can carry several squadrons of drones as well as helicopters and cruise missiles.


IRGC Chief Gen. Hossein Salami, said that the warship can travel "independently" in seas for up to one year.

America and Israel must continue to work together to counter the Iranian threat — including the regime's expanding drone capabilities, which have been used to launch attacks on Israel and American troops.


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Israeli emergency response group signs agreement with U.S. law enforcement

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ZAKA , the Israeli volunteer emergency response organization,
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has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States' National Sheriffs' Association to train U.S. law enforcement agencies in handling terrorism incidents and mass casualty events.


The training will focus on forensic preservation at crime scenes and will include specialized training for handling Jewish deceased individuals, ensuring bodies are handled in a manner that respects Jewish religious custom.


ZAKA has played a critical role in responding to terror attacks in Israel, including the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, and has been deployed to disaster situations worldwide, including in Turkey, Florida, Nepal, Ukraine and Morocco.


Sheriff Kieran Donahue, president of the National Sheriffs’ Association, said, "The knowledge and experience that ZAKA brings will give our officers tools they’ve never had before."

The U.S.-Israel relationships helps keep both countries safe and secure, and better prepared to deal with shared threats.

Other notable headlines
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Despite suffering, Romi Gonen returned from captivity with a smile, says mother
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Working through the trauma, Thai farmhands who survived Oct. 7 return to the fields
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Freed hostages tell of deprivation in Gaza, urge return of all those still captive


Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.

Jake Braunstein

Director of Policy Communications


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Support our work to keep Israel safe.



The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.


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