Washington, D.C. — This past weekend, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and a group of Senate colleagues on a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and to Israel. The trip included opportunities for Senators to forcefully promote an engaged U.S. foreign policy based on strong alliances and partnerships and to discuss international security policy with world leaders.
During the Munich Security Conference, the delegation held important discussions with several world leaders, U.S. and NATO military commanders, and senior officials from key U.S. partners, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss bipartisan support for Ukraine and its defense against Russian aggression.
“There is really strong bipartisan support for Ukraine. We sat down on a bipartisan basis with Zelensky yesterday, and I think all around the table, we expressed our appreciation for the heroic sacrifice Ukraine has made, the fact that we want to maintain a strong level of support for Ukraine. So I think Zelensky heard that loud and clear from the U.S. Senate on a bipartisan basis, and I hope that we can allay some of the concerns that have been raised by the real mixture of messages that Europe, Russia and Ukraine have been getting from the Oval Office and from the Defense Department,” said Senator Schiff on MSNBC’s Alex Witt Reports.
On the 500th day anniversary since Hamas’ attack on Israel, Schiff and the delegation traveled to Israel where they met with families of hostages to demonstrate the urgency in returning all the hostages home. They also held meetings with several Israeli government officials including Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.
Following the meetings, Schiff joined colleagues to reiterate bipartisan support for Israel and the need to release all hostages.
“The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. We have been so devastated, not only by the magnitude of the horror that was inflicted on Israel 500 days ago, but also by the incredible wave of antisemitism it unleashed around the world. All too much of which we have experienced in the United States as well,” said Senator Schiff.
“It is hard to know how to prosecute a war without knowing for sure where you want the end to be. And although I know this is an unpopular idea in Israel, I believe that ultimately, the way to a lasting peace will require two states. What the attributes of a Palestinian state will be, will have to be the subject of negotiation. But I hope that after Hamas is no longer a threat to Israel or anywhere else in the world. I hope that when security, not just a sense of security by Israelis, but the reality of security for Israel has been restored, that we can, once again, think about what the future can look like that we can help achieve together,” concluded Senator Schiff.
View photos from the trips below:
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