​Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today (Monday 4 April 2016) with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Members of the delegation included Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Devin Nunes (R-CA), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX).

At their meeting with PM Netanyahu, the delegation expressed strong support for Israel.

This is the new Speaker's first overseas visit since taking up the role at the end of last year. The delegation also met with Chief of Staff of the IDF Gazi Eizenkot and Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein. Afterwards, the delegation went to see the Iron Dome Missile Defense System which Congress helps to fund.

Speaker Ryan said of the visit: "I'm proud that my first trip as speaker is a return to Israel. At this critical moment, it is essential that we reaffirm the historic alliance between our two nations and work together to address the mutual security threats that we face."