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Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with a GOP delegation meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. From left: Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, Cruz, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Netanyahu, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso. (Ted Cruz twitterpic)
A week after taking office, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz headed to Israel on an unannounced congressional delegation trip, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Cruz posted a photo on his Twitter account this afternoon, showing himself, McConnell and other freshmen Republican senators meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces Jan. 22 elections.
Cruz?s office did not announce the trip and would not confirm Thursday that he was headed overseas. (The DMN caught wind that he was heading to Israel and asked. We also wondered why Cruz, who rarely holds back on sharing his opinions, didn?t weigh in on President Barack Obama?s nomination of chief of staff Jack Lew to replace Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.)
The itinerary likely includes Afghanistan.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, during a photo op with McConnell at the U.S. Capitol earlier this week, let slip that McConnell would be visiting his country in a few days. Karzai just finished a news conference with Obama at the White House, and mentioned that he?s heading home tonight.
Cruz, who took office Jan. 3, is a new member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and this was his second trip in a month to Israel.
On Dec. 17, Netanyahu welcomed then senator-elect Cruz on what the PM said was his? first visit to Israel. He spoke of the U.S.-Israel friendship, and concerns about the potential use of chemical weapons by the crumbling Syrian regime.
Cruz?s reply, according to the PM?s office: ?I look forward to working to strengthen the already incredibly strong alliance between the United States and Israel. In my view the United States should stand unshakably alongside the Nation of Israel. I thank you personally, I thank your nation for its leadership for democratic values in a very dangerous region of the world, also for your leadership protecting the security of the nation and ultimately of the United States as well, with respect to weapons of mass destruction, whether in Syria or Iran or elsewhere and I look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen that friendship.?
Sen.-elect Ted Cruz with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec. 17, 2012 (Government of Israel)
On Friday, Netanyahu emphasized to the Senate delegation the need to halt Iran?s nuclear effort.
?My priority, if I?m elected for a next term as prime minister, will be first to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons,? he told the group, according to the Jerusalem Post. ?I think that was and remains the highest priority for both our countries. I appreciate the American support and your support for that end.?
McConnell reportedly told the prime minister that whatever their many differences, Democrats and Republicans agree when it comes to Israel. ?Our agenda in this part of the world is the same as your agenda,? he said. ?You?re one of our best friends and we?re happy to continue that relationship.?
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