The Knesset Speaker granted a letter of appointment to two Knesset Members Boaz Bismuth (Likud) from the coalition and Idan Roll (Yesh Atid) from the opposition, to serve as the co-chairmen for the Israel parliamentarians.

US Chair of the House–Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group Congressman David Kustoff was in Jerusalem, Israel for the occasion. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew was also present in the Knesset Library and spoke at the meeting.

Speaker Ohana mentioned the date was selected because of July 4th, to honor America, as Israel has no greater friends in this war between light and darkness." Israel is like the finger in the dike," he added. "Israel must win to spread light on the region." 

 
US Chair of the House–Knesset Parliamentary Friendship, Congressman Kustoff, is one of two Republican Jews in Congress. Mentioning running for office in Memphis, TN, in 2016, he knocked on doors to reach voters in a district with more "church steeples than McDonald has golden arches." People would ask where he went to church. “When I would answer ‘Temple Israel,’ the response immediately would be I love Israel." They supported Israel, and believed "Bless Israel will be blessed, curse and will be cursed."

Harry S Truman recognized Israel first, and the bond of democracy and truth are shared.  This initiative was begun in 2023 before October 7. Everyone remembers where they were when the world stopped. "Went to bed progressives and woke up conservative," Kustoff added. He acknowledged the parliamentary friendship group’s founding, by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and continued with current Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) along with the support of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). 

Kutsoff had been briefed about Kfar Aza and Nova in Washington, but seeing and hearing about the captives and those brutally murdered on his visit south yesterday had a powerful impact. "Not to surrender and wipe terrorism off the earth and stand firm and strong against antisemitism in all forms." He concluded with God Bless America and God Bless Israel. 

US Ambassador to Israel Lew began by mentioning that in 2023 at the beginning of this initiative, no one could imagine what transpired with antisemitism around the world.  The US has always been a close ally and "the relationship is ironclad," he added. The response to the April 14 attack by Iran with regional cooperation and no massive damage to Israel was a positive sign. The American people care about Israel and overwhelmingly agree to forge bonds.

The Israel MK Roll spoke about the duty to bring home beloved brothers and sisters, Americans among them, and stand against those who seek to destroy our way of life.

Bismuth told of darkness and light with Israel and America as two lamps to light the world, and in this changing world to light the region with Abraham Accords. Against Iran, together the world is watching. He also concluded with God Bless Israel and God Bless America.

The Knesset Library contains all the books written by every Member of Knesset, decades of old written ledgers, and a full set of Steinsaltz Talmud among the collections on the shelves.