Donnelly returns from official travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel

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Published: Tuesday, 20 January 2015 19:11

Bipartisan delegation focuses on national security concerns in the Middle East

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly Tuesday morning (Jan. 20) returned from a bipartisan Senate delegation to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel led by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).  

U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Angus King (I-ME) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) were a part of the delegation. 

Sen. Donnelly and the delegation meet with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Doha.

Sen. Donnelly and his colleagues meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Donnelly, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “Given the ongoing threat of terrorism and regional instability in the Middle East, it is important to spend time with key partners in the region to examine how we can work together to better protect Hoosiers and all Americans. 

"We spent time with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel discussing how to combat ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups; as well as addressing the flow of foreign fighters across regional borders, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, and the necessity of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. There is no greater responsibility than keeping our country safe, and the recent terrorist attack in France was a stark reminder that we must remain vigilant.” 

The delegation departed Thursday (Jan. 15) and returned Tuesday (Jan. 20). Highlights of the trip included:

Saudi Arabia

Met with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence Chief of General Intelligence, and Saudi-based Syrian Tribal Leaders in Riyadh.

Qatar

Met with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir ofQatar; His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Qatar; and His Excellency Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Foreign Minister of Qatar.

Israel

Met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamdallah.

Visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.  The delegation laid a wreath in remembrance of victims of the terrorist attack in Paris, including those lost in the attack on a Kosher supermarket.