ellison080207
On the homepage
NewsBreak
Out There
CWTC Beat
Fitness
Ellison to take weeklong trip to Israel, meet with Israeli, Palestinian leaders
Just back from Iraq, he will return to the Middle East on a privately funded trip including 19 Congress members.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Politically Connected
WASHINGTON - Rep. Keith Ellison will spend a week in Israel on a privately funded trip sponsored by the America Israel Education Federation.
The AIEF -- the charitable arm of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) -- is sending 19 members of Congress to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders Aug. 12 through Aug. 18. The group, made up mostly of freshman Democrats, has plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. The senior member on the trip is House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who has gone three times. Rick Jauert, Ellison's spokesman, said that Hoyer personally invited the Minnesota Democrat.
"This is not an ideologically driven trip," said Josh Block, a spokesman with AIPAC. "The trip will have a wide variety of people with diverse perceptions. They will be up early in the mornings and have dinner by 8 [p.m.] so they are done by 11 [p.m.]."
Jauert called the Israel trip "a natural extension" of Ellison's visit to Iraq last weekend. "It's another opportunity to meet and talk to people, to listen and learn. Dialogue is everything to him, and the more he can have, with more people, the better."
Jauert said Ellison's engagement with the Middle East peace issue is important to the diverse communities of his Minneapolis-area district -- from the Jewish Community Relations Council to the patrons of the Holy Land Middle Eastern eatery on Lake Street and Central Avenue. "He hears about it every time he goes back to his district," Jauert said.
The group will stay in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and one night in the northern Galilee region. While in Israel's north, the group will view its border with Lebanon.
The trip to Israel is Ellison's second as a congressman. In the spring, he traveled to the region as part of a congressional delegation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Later this month, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., will lead an AIEF-sponsored trip comprised of Republicans.
Jake Sherman • 202-408-2723
Recent Politically Connected stories
Obama's trip to Tokyo put back a day so he can attend memorial for Fort Hood shootings - August 1, 2007
Obama's trip to Tokyo put back a day so he can attend memorial for Fort Hood shootings - President Barack Obama is attending a memorial service at Fort Hood on Tuesday and now won't get to his planned first stop in Asia next week until one day later than expected. More
- Palin says she knew Couric interview went badly
- Obama announces Dec. forum on finding jobs
- Jury says former Iowa kosher slaughterhouse manager guilty on 86 of 91 financial fraud charges
- Patrick Kennedy clashes with outspoken RI bishop
- Forceful Franni Franken embraces new life on Hill
- Obama salutes Fort Hood victims, promises justice
- Condoleezza Rice remains unrattled during Twin Cities visit
- Tax credit: Home buyers get a second chance
- House Roll Call: How they voted on abortion issue
- No guarantees on Senate health bill's public plan
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  1000s of HomesListings, open houses, the hottest market news. Start and end your search for a new home here. |
Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments