Israel’s consul general thanks Iowa House for bipartisan support, warns against rising antisemitism

Israel’s consul general to the Midwest addressed the Iowa House, thanking legislators for what he called a long-standing, bipartisan friendship and urging continued cooperation between Israel and Iowa.

The visitor, introduced to the chamber by Representative Harris, said "Israel values Iowa. Israel respects Iowa, and Israel is grateful for Iowa," and described trips by Iowa leaders to Israel as the basis for deeper ties. He said those ties extend to agricultural technology, water management, cybersecurity, defense cooperation, academic research and medical innovation.

Why it matters: The consul general framed the relationship as both moral and practical — praising Iowa for what he said was leadership on combating antisemitism and urging partnerships that could bring jobs and investment to the state.

On antisemitism, he told members the issue is "not a political issue. It is a moral issue," and said Iowa’s action to adopt a definition of antisemitism into state law (transcript: "Ira definition of antisemitism") gave educators and institutions a clearer standard. He also recounted the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and the subsequent return of hostages, saying the events remain a national and human tragedy.

The consul general highlighted Israel’s investment in research and development, saying "Israel invests around 5% of its GDP in research and development," and argued that Iowa and Israel share resilience and a focus on innovation. "When we talk about our friendship between Iowa and Israel, it is easy to understand what it is really based on. It's based on shared values, democracy, freedom, human dignity," he said.

Representative Harris introduced the guest and asked members to welcome him; the House returned to legislative business after the remarks. The consul general concluded by invoking a passage from Isaiah and saying, "God bless Israel. God bless Iowa, and God bless the United States of America."