My Recent Trip to Israel

I plan to hit the ground running when the legislative session begins next month and I’ll soon be updating you on our legislative agenda.   

In the meantime, I returned from Israel on Friday, December 6th. During my visit, I had the opportunity to receive excellent briefings on national security and policy. Our delegation, which consisted of eight legislators from Texas and adjoining states, attended at the invitation of the Israeli government.  

Our second day, we went to Kibbutz Nir Oz which is a small community near Gaza. On October 7, 2023, over 25% of Nir Oz’s residents, including women and very young children, were either killed or taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. Sexual assaults and many other acts of barbarism took place. We also visited the site of the Nova Music Festival and other locations along the Gaza border. Nearly 400 were massacred at the Nova festival alone. Other communities near the Gaza border suffered similar attacks.  

Nir Oz remains as it was the day after the attack. A former resident walked us through the village of burned and bullet ridden homes telling us the stories of family after family.  

One of the homes burned by terrorists at Kibbutz Nir Oz (A Kibbutz is a small community of Jewish citizens). 

 

 Some of the many victims at Nir Oz

At Nova we met with a young man who was present during the attack at the music festival. We heard what he and others witnessed and endured that terrible day, reinforcing the unspeakable evil of these terrorists. As he spoke, we were reminded of the ongoing reality of Israeli life as we heard outgoing artillery fire.
 
I had hoped we would be able to travel to the north but the situation remained too unstable near the border with Syria and Lebanon. Little did I know that regime change in Syria was unfolding. A day or so after my return, in the early morning hours of Sunday, December 8, Syria’s President Bashar Assad was forced to flee the country. He is reportedly now in Moscow. With the future of Syria uncertain, Israel’s defense forces moved to secure Mt. Hermon, ensuring that this critically strategic elevated position in the north doesn’t fall into the hands of rogue terrorists.
 
Though more than a year had passed since the brutal assault of October 7, 2023, it was clear that the nation cannot yet move on. Nor should they. There are still approximately 100 hostages who must be returned to their homeland and families. These innocents are held in horrible conditions, malnourished and with severely failing health. It is amazing any still survive.
 
Tourism, a staple of Israel’s economy, is still reeling from the aftermath of October 7 and the continuing war. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv reminded me of what Washington, DC was like when I went there a few weeks after 9/11 in that the bustling crowds were completely gone. The Ben Gurion Airport tarmac was almost empty. One shop owner said we were his first customer of the day. In fact, 2024 is expected to conclude with less than a quarter of the number who visited Israel in 2019.

Looking at the bigger picture, it is important to remember that the main cause of this war and the entire region’s instability is Iran. There is no question—Iran IS the financier and puppet master behind Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and others. The Iranian government’s financial and military capabilities MUST be destroyed or acts like October 7th will repeat and, in fact, increase. And never forget that Iran views the U.S. through the same lens as it views Israel. Iran must NEVER be allowed to control nuclear weapons and its ability to fund and sponsor international terror must end. 
 
Everywhere we went the resolve of Israel’s people was strong. They wish for nothing more than peace. Their very greeting, Shalom, means peace. As always, the Israeli people were warm and welcoming and incredibly thankful for America’s support.  

Sincerely,

Phil King
State Senator, District 10

(L), Our delegation shown with an IDF officer who briefed us during our trip
(R), Receiving a briefing near the Gaza border