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Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0131/p08s01-cole.html
Congressional Trips to Israel Spark Debate
[Christian Science Monitor] Lenny Ben-David - On Jan. 26, former Sen. Jim Abourezk wrote an opinion piece, "The Hidden Cost of Free Congressional Trips to Israel." As head of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's Jerusalem office for 15 years, I oversaw the scheduling of congressional missions in Israel. Members met with Israel's leadership, visited sites holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and viewed Israel's vulnerable borders. On every trip, we scheduled meetings with Palestinian leaders such as Mahmoud Abbas, Ahmed Queria, and Sari Nusseibeh. Congressional support for Israel doesn't come about because of fear or arm-twisting, as Abourezk charges. It derives from the American people's support for Israel. Polls show that Americans support Israel over the Palestinians, and Americans have told pollsters that they view Israel as a friend to the U.S. The failures of Arab lobbying organizations over the years are not because of some money conspiracy. It's because, in the best democratic tradition, Congress reflects the spirit of the American people.