After an eight-day trip to Israel, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers says the region’s conflict needs immediate American intervention.
“I felt that we got to see both sides of the story,” he said. “Both sides say the United States needs to be involved, and they need to be involved now.”
Last week Rogers, R-Brighton, joined 15 other U.S. representatives in meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss concerns and ponder solutions to an 11-month strife over a territorial dispute. Since Rogers returned, the conflict escalated when Palestinian leader Mustafa Zibri was killed after a pair of rockets was fired through his office window Monday.
The trip was funded by the American Israel Education Foundation, but Rogers said both sides were able to present their cases to the U.S. leaders.
“It gave us, as congressmen, a perspective on how serious the situation is, and how we’ve underestimated the tensions in that region of the Mideast,” said Rogers, who made stops in the Golan Heights, The West Bank, Tel Aviv and the Lebanese border during the trip.
Rogers met with the chief negotiator for the Palestinian National Authority, Saeb Erakat, and the group’s leader Yasser Arafat. On the Israeli side, he met Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and Shimon Peres, Israel’s chief negotiator and former foreign minister.
“It is escalating to the point that I’m not sure either side is right,” Rogers said.
Rogers said peace could be an “overreach” at this point, but he hopes a cease-fire can be achieved, so leaders can begin negotiating.
“If we can do that, then we will have made an impact in the Middle East,” he said. “But if not, I’m afraid this is spiraling out of control.”
Dennis Denno, a spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party, said Rogers will benefit from what he saw, especially because he sat down with both parties.
“We think it is important that he learned about this volatile part of the world,” he said. “Now it is time for him to start working on some of the problems back home.”
Finance senior Andy Bocknek, who has taken two trips to Israel, said the nation must be seen in person to be able to understand the dynamics of the country.
“It doesn’t compare to anything in the United States,” he said. “Soldiers are walking down the streets, through shopping centers, 18- and 19-years-old, carrying machine guns.”
Bocknek, who’s participated in rallies for peace with Palestinian students, said there is still a chance for peace.
“At this point I think peace needs to be reached,” he said. “The negotiators need to sit at the table and work things out.”
Jason Ahrens, president of the MSU College Republicans, said Rogers’ trip will help him make more informed decisions at home, and the knowledge can be shared with fellow representatives in Michigan and in Washington, D.C.
“It shows that he is thinking of the larger picture and how things in Israel can impact the U.S.,” he said. “It is important for these congressmen to analyze the issues that affect the political and economic issues here in the U.S.”
Visiting other countries will give the congressman a broader perspective, Ahrens said.
“They need to see what is going on in other countries to be able to make decisions in their own countries,” the food management senior said. “We aren’t isolated.
