Bachmann, other Congress members are in Israel this week

WASHINGTON - Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is spending a week in Israel on a privately funded trip sponsored by the America Israel Education Federation (AIEF), her office announced Wednesday.

Last update: August 10, 2007 - 12:08 PM

WASHINGTON - Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is spending a week in Israel on a privately funded trip sponsored by the America Israel Education Federation (AIEF), her office announced Wednesday.

The AIEF -- the charitable arm of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) -- is also the sponsor of a trip to Israel next week by a separate delegation of lawmakers that includes Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn.

Bachmann's group left for Israel on Sunday. The 21-member delegation, led by Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., has met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a former prime minister. They are scheduled to meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres today.

The trip marks Bachmann's second visit to the Middle East, following a recent trip to Iraq and Pakistan.

AIPAC is an influential voice in Washington on behalf of Israel and frequently sponsors congressional trips there.

Along with Bachmann and Ellison, the group is sponsoring trips to Israel in the coming weeks for nearly 40 other Republican and Democratic lawmakers, many of them freshmen.

KEVIN DIAZ

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