On Tuesday, September 16, a huge group of 250 American State Legislators gathered in southern Israel for a unique ceremony. They had come to plant trees in Park Ofakim. However, this wasn’t a normal tree planting in Israel. There were fifty saplings, one for each state in the American Union.
Flags fluttered in the breeze, from Hawaii to Arizona, Idaho to Montana. “Seeing elected officials from all 50 US states planting trees together in our country, each tree becomes a symbol of love for the land and of the profound connection that unites us,” KKL-JNF World Chairwoman Ifat Ovadia-Luski said.
Park Ofakim sits at the end of a road in the city of Ofakim in southern Israel. The main street in the town is busy. However, almost two years ago, Ofakim was one of the targets of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Thirty-three people were killed in the city, including six police.
Many other residents of the city also became casualties in and around the border of Gaza. Park Ofakim is therefore a unique symbol of Israel’s resilience. For the members of the state legislatures in this large delegation, it was important to see this part of Israel.
The forest here was planted by KKL-JNF in 1978. “Ofakim has become a large green oasis, encompassing the historic Patish Fortress, scenic hiking and cycling routes, and disabled-accessible recreation sites,” KKL-JNF says of the site.
The forest extends over 500 dunams. “Here in Ofakim Park, the members of the delegation are experiencing the true essence of KKL-JNF’s mission: rebuilding the land after the war, advancing its development, and creating a real connection to the soil,” Ifat Ovadia-Luski said. Ofakim Mayor Itzik Danino and others were in attendance during the ceremony.
Largest delegation to visit Israel
The massive delegation is the largest to visit Israel, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sharren Haskel, addressed the group in a large tent near where the politicians were going to plant trees.
A flock of buses had brought them here, and the tent was completely packed, with people standing at the back and stands erected to provide water to the attendees. The ceremony was highlighted by several young people, one of whom sang a song, and one said the “planters’ prayer.”
Two members of the delegation, one from Maine and one from Georgia, spoke. Matthew Harrington, a Maine State Senator, spoke about the trees as a symbol of growth and the future. “With these 50 trees, each one representing a state of the United States, we are weaving together two powerful stories, the enduring strength of this land and the enduring friendship between nations and peoples."
Esther Panitch, Member of the Georgia House of Representatives, spoke about he importance of states forming their own Israel caucus. “Make sure your state has anti-BDS laws. And adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.”
A representative of KKL-JNF explained that the saplings should be placed in pre-dug holes. Shovels were provided, and the 50 flags of the 50 states, each with a hole next to it for a tree, were arranged alphabetically. When the speeches were over, the hundreds of members of the delegation fanned out to try to find their state flags. Then they posed with the flags and placed the trees in the holes.
One of those who made the trip to Israel is Rachel A. Henderson, a member of the Maine House of Representatives, whom she has served in since 2002. She told the ‘Post’ that it is her first time in Israel. “I always wanted to come to Israel, and it felt like a pipe dream until it was Israel inviting me to come [with this delegation.”
She says her grandfather was Jewish and was placed in foster care at age 4. “We don’t know much about his heritage, but we knew he was Jewish, and my mother cared a great deal about it and loved the Jewish culture, so it’s in my DNA.”
She says this is the first time she has been invited to visit a country. She noted that in Maine, there is a ‘Free Palestine’ movement and they try to make themselves known, “but it’s in opposition to what is right and truthful.”
Israel has been resilient for almost two years of war, 710 days. Delegations such as this one illustrate the enduring bond between the US and Israel. They also show the impressive work that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KKL-JNF, and others have continued to invest in enabling this kind of bond and support.
This was clear from speaking to those in attendance. State legislators have also been at the forefront of issues relating to Israel, particularly in combating boycotts and antisemitism. As such, the focus on this large group from the fifty states under the banner of “50 states One Israel” illustrates the current mosaic of support that Israel has across the US.