The Jerusalem Post’s Washington Conference on Wednesday featured back-to-back appearances by two key US senators who insisted that American support for Israel remains strong and bipartisan, even after two years of war and intense political debate in Washington.
Speaking first, Senator James Risch, a senior Republican and longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Israel “one of America’s most important allies” and a “vibrant democracy” that stands on the front line against Iran’s destabilizing actions across the Middle East.
“Israel carries its own weight and more,” Risch said, arguing that Jerusalem has repeatedly acted to counter Iran’s nuclear and regional ambitions even at moments when the United States was more hesitant. He praised Israel’s recent military operations targeting Iranian capabilities.
“Earlier this year, Israel gave the world a masterclass in the American first approach,” Risch said. “They eliminated our enemies’ nuclear scientists, took out IRGC generals, and destroyed missile sites and infrastructure, all with their own forces.”
Risch credited President Donald Trump with strengthening the alliance, helping free hostages, and weakening Iran. He described the recent ceasefire as “a banner moment for peace” and said the region now has a chance to move beyond the grip of authoritarian regimes and Iranian-backed militias.
He pointed to Syria and Lebanon as examples of rapidly changing dynamics. In Syria, he said, “the strength and resiliency of Syrians created the conditions for the regime’s collapse.” In Lebanon, he said Trump is pressing leaders to disarm Hezbollah and remove threats to Israel’s security.
“Thanks to our partners in Israel, the region stands on the brink of a new era of peace,” Risch said, urging deeper coordination among US allies to seize what he called a rare strategic opportunity.
During a question-and-answer session, Risch firmly rejected claims that support for Israel has significantly eroded in the Senate. He warned that efforts to cut aid to Israel “encourage Hamas” and can be read in the region as a sign that the United States is shifting toward terror groups.
While acknowledging a handful of “concerning votes,” he insisted that the broader picture remains clear. Support for Israel in Congress, he argued, is still “bipartisan and strong.”
“Israel is an incredibly important ally of ours. It is the bedrock of where we are in the Middle East,” Risch said. “We have always been there. We are going to continue to be there.”
Rosen: ‘We cannot let Jewish issues become a political football.’
Risch was followed on stage by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), introduced by conference honorary co-chair Norman Brownstein as one of Israel’s staunchest allies in the Senate.
Brownstein highlighted Rosen’s background as a former synagogue president in Las Vegas and recalled that the late senator Harry Reid personally encouraged her to run for the Senate. Since arriving in Washington, she has become one of the most vocal pro-Israel voices on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leading figure in efforts to counter antisemitism.
Rosen opened by describing her path from software developer and Jewish leader to becoming only the third Jewish woman, and the only Jewish mother, ever to serve in the Senate. That experience, she said, shapes her sense of responsibility at a time of surging antisemitism and extremism.
She insisted that, despite the loud debate in US politics, “support for the US–Israel relationship remains overwhelming and bipartisan.”
“The relationship is about the future we can build together,” Rosen said, citing shared democratic values and the potential for deeper cooperation in security, technology, economic development, and regional diplomacy. A strong partnership, she added, benefits Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others across the Middle East.
Rosen warned that extremist voices on both the far left and far right are trying to politicize Israel and weaponize antisemitism for domestic gain.
“We cannot ever let Jewish issues become a political football,” she said. “As long as I am in the United States Senate, I will work with anyone to strengthen, not weaken, the relationship between the United States and Israel.”
She emphasized that Israel’s security directly reinforces American security, pointing to intelligence sharing, joint defense projects, and the shared threat from Iran and its proxies.
Rosen highlighted the transformative impact of the Abraham Accords and her role as co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus. The agreements, she said, have already reshaped the region, creating new partnerships in security, technology, tourism, cultural exchange, and healthcare.
“These human connections matter,” she stressed.
Turning to the October 7 massacre and the two years of war that followed, Rosen described meeting families of the hostages and working to keep US support for Israel “bipartisan and unconditional.” With only one hostage still believed to be in captivity, she said, the focus must now be on bringing full closure and building a path forward that strengthens Israel while protecting civilians in Gaza.
She called for robust humanitarian assistance “to reach those who need it most” and insisted that “our next steps must be bipartisan” if any long-term solution is to succeed.
Rosen also spoke about her recent visits to Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, and Iraq, saying leaders across the region expressed a desire for a different future.
“They want a future defined by partnership, not hostility. By economic growth, not extremism. By cooperation, not endless cycles of conflict,” she said.
Looking ahead, Rosen said there is enormous potential in expanded US–Israel cooperation in fields such as cybersecurity, water technology, agriculture, clean energy, manufacturing, and medical research, particularly as more countries join and deepen ties under the Abraham Accords.
“When the United States and Israel stand together, when we lead together, there is no limit to what we can achieve,” she concluded.