A delegation of chiefs of staff and senior advisors from governors’ offices across the United States arrived in Israel this week for a six-day educational mission aimed at deepening state-level ties with the Jewish state. The visit was organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), in cooperation with Israeli partners.
The group, made up of a dozen senior officials representing Republican governors from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Vermont, met with Israeli government officials, military leaders, security experts, business executives, and civil society representatives. They also toured key Biblical and historical sites in Jerusalem and the Galilee, as well as communities in Israel’s south and north affected by the two-year conflict sparked by the October 7 massacre.
“The presence of senior representatives from U.S. governors’ offices in Israel just one week after the Gaza ceasefire took effect had an immeasurable impact,” said CAM Senior Advisor Gabriel Groisman, who headed the delegation. “Their support and solidarity were deeply felt by everyone the delegation met with. It was an honor to lead the trip, to share this incredible country with these great friends, and to help them see the inextricable and critical bond between the United States and Israel.”
During their visit, the delegation toured the Knesset and other national institutions, met with IDF officials and families of terror victims, and visited sites including Kibbutz Be’eri, which was devastated in the Hamas-led assault on October 7. The mission’s goal, CAM said, was to strengthen bilateral state-level engagement, while providing participants with first-hand exposure to Israel’s security realities, economic innovation, and social resilience.
“I am deeply grateful to the Combat Antisemitism Movement for providing me with an eye-opening experience that included not just the extensive religious, cultural, and political history of this incredible country, but also a deeper understanding of the many current challenges facing Israelis and Jewish people all over the world,” said Gretchen Conger, Chief of Staff to Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The power of the partnership between the United States and Israel is critical. I will leave Israel an even better advocate for our friends in the Jewish community at home and across the world.”
Dave Lopez, Chief of Staff for Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, echoed those sentiments: “Israel is America’s most important ally and is on the front line of the same fight as we are. It is as important as ever that Americans in leadership positions understand the bonds between our peoples, as well as the roots of antisemitism and its anti-Israel element. I’m deeply grateful to CAM for its vital work to promote that understanding and advance much-needed policy at all levels of American government.”
Michael Hendrix, Policy Director for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, added, “CAM brought Israel to life for me in ways I couldn’t have imagined — from October 7’s aftermath to the daily security realities and the bonds we share. This kind of experience reinforces the moral clarity every leader needs. I’m heading home to Tennessee ready to continue the fight against antisemitism and to strengthen our ties with the nation and people of Israel.”
According to CAM, this mission is part of a broader series of delegations bringing influential American state and local leaders to Israel. Later this month, similar missions will host U.S. state attorneys general, legislators, and leaders of the New York State, City, and Port Authority police forces — further strengthening the grassroots network of U.S.-Israel cooperation across government levels.