“I did not leave my meeting with Abbas highly energized that he is eager to engage in peace talks”

Max Rose is a freshman Democratic congressman serving New York’s 11th district, which includes South Brooklyn and Staten Island. He is a Jewish Army veteran who earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart as a platoon leader in Afghanistan. A moderate Democrat, he returned last week from a trip to Israel, where he was a part of a bipartisan delegation.

How would you sum up your trip to Israel?

It was phenomenal. It was highly educational, and I came back confident that America will retain its bipartisan support for Israel, for its security, and support the preservation of the Jewish state in the heart of the Middle East.

Did you learn anything new?

Anytime one goes directly to the border with Syria and the border with Lebanon and can see up close the incredibly challenging security situation that Israel has faced for the better part of its history, it’s a valuable experience. It’s an experience that I’ll never forget and I’ll certainly think back to it as I play a part in policy decisions as they pertain to America’s relationship with Israel.

What was the most important or most interesting part of your visit?

The most interesting part was meeting with the present leadership and potentially future leadership. It was great to sit down with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and also a fantastic opportunity to sit down with Benny Gantz, who is among the leaders of the opposition. Any time you get a chance to listen to the views of the current and potentially future leaders and to discuss our relationship, I feel very privileged to have had a seat at that table. It was also a great opportunity to meet with President Abbas.

Can you share with me your experience of visiting President Abbas in Ramallah? Did you get the impression that he’s interested in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

I did not leave my meeting with Abbas highly energized that he is eager to engage in peace talks. That being said, I retain the hope and optimism that with American leadership, Palestinian leadership, and Israeli leadership, we can arrive at a resolution that guarantees Israel’s right to maintain itself as a Jewish state, preserves Israel’s security, and provides the framework and the pathway to a Palestinian state that can achieve economic prosperity.

What was your take on the planned trip by Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar?

I stood with both [House Minority Leader] Kevin McCarthy and [House Majority Leader] Steny Hoyer, who both said they had every right to enter the country. I think any opportunity people have to visit Israel and to see firsthand the serious security situation there, they will leave with a better understanding of the situation.

That being said, there are obviously differences that I have with them. But we should remember that 97% of the members of Congress supported the anti-BDS legislation. The vast, vast majority of members stand as strong supporters of Israel.

Do you believe that the mainstream of the Democratic Party is more closely aligned to Tlaib and Omar or to people like you?

Each member of Congress is an independent actor. I am a strong believer that support for Israel should remain a bipartisan issue. But I’m also a believer in a pathway to a two-state solution. That is not a false choice. I’m a veteran — believe me, I understand security firsthand. So, I want to be a part of the story of America’s very strong support for the alliance between Israel and America.

I want to talk to you about the 2020 race and about President Trump’s position toward Israel. Many people in Israel, as you know, admire Trump, who recognized Jerusalem as the capital and moved the US embassy. He also recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Who among the Democratic nominees could give him a fight in that sense?

I’m boycotting any predictions of 2020 presidential politics until 2020. That is one of the biggest problems that we have in our system today. Here we are, 18 months prior to an election, and we want to discuss it. I am concerned with trying to provide for the great people of Staten Island and South Brooklyn who have been ignored and ripped off by all levels of government for generations. That’s all my focus is on and I’m tired of the politics. That’s what I believe. This country is being overtaken by hyper partisanship and hyper divisiveness. That’s got to stop.

We’ve seen a rise in anti-Semitism in New York over the past few months. What is the cause and how can it be solved?

There isn’t one cause, and there isn’t a single solution. Anti-Semitism never went away. Whenever there’s economic anxiety, whenever there’s uncertainty in the world, and divisiveness, and a spread of hate, anti-Semitism [rises]. We are seeing that unfortunately in my district and in New York City. It’s going to take education, and culture building, and law enforcement to make sure that people understand that there are significant consequences to this type of action. I intend on being a leader in terms of spreading the message that there is no place in America for these types of acts.

Are you worried by the trend?

I am very, very worried by it. We have to remain vigilant about this issue. I was a leader in Congress to help increase the grant support for all religious institutions and faith-based organizations seeking federal funds for security infrastructure. That successfully passed the House and we’re very confident it will pass the Senate. It is very unfortunate that people are going to their religious institutions scared because there have been so many acts of violence. Our faith-based institutions need the tools to protect themselves. I’ll fight every day to make sure they have them.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 775)