The US-Israel Education Association (USIEA) is marking 15 years of arranging visits to Israel for US members of Congress, aiming to give lawmakers direct exposure to the security, technology and regional issues underlying the alliance. The organisation argues that these trips have helped inform congressional support for major areas of cooperation, including missile defence and diplomatic initiatives, at a time when US-Israel relations face increasing debate.

Founded in 2011 by Heather Johnston, USIEA initially took five members of the House Armed Services Committee to see Israel’s then-new Iron Dome missile-defence system. Johnston said the system was so sensitive that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to declassify it for the visiting lawmakers; the article also links the organisation’s work to the broader context of the Abraham Accords and sustained bilateral cooperation.