A bipartisan group of Vermont House members and hundreds of their counterparts from other states visited Israel last week on a trip sponsored by the Israeli government that comes as the Middle Eastern country is facing mounting international scrutiny over its war in Gaza.

Rep. Sarita Austin, D-Colchester; Rep. Matt Birong, D-Vergennes; Rep. Gina Galfetti, R-Barre Town; Rep. Will Greer, D-Bennington; and Rep. James Gregoire, R-Fairfield, took part in the visit, which was called “50 States, One Israel,” according to interviews and social media posts. The visit ran from Monday, Sept. 15 to Thursday, Sept. 18.

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Four of the five legislators were initially invited on the trip by Israel’s foreign ministry, while

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