Louisiana State Representative Michael Bayham spent Monday in the Binyamin region as part of his trip to Israel, highlighting the strengthening bond between the Binyamin Regional Council and American officials. This visit comes as a result of the relationships fostered by Yisrael Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Regional Council, with U.S. political figures.
Governor Ganz was hosted in the United States last year by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, State Treasurer John Fleming, and Representative Bayham. During that trip, Ganz extended an invitation to visit Israel, which Bayham has now accepted. Throughout his stay, Bayham was briefed on the challenges the region faces and was shown the tremendous progress that has taken place in recent years. He expressed admiration for the community expansion and infrastructure improvements he witnessed.
A firm advocate for Israel, Bayham has played a key role in promoting pro-Israel legislation in his home state over the past year. Notably, in June 2024, he led efforts to pass significant resolutions in support of Israel and the Jewish population in Louisiana. Among them was a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in the wake of the October 7 terror attack, affirming Israel’s right to defend itself, and calling for the immediate release of hostages. Another resolution denounced antisemitism on college campuses across Louisiana and reaffirmed the state’s pledge to fight against hatred toward Jews.
During his trip, Bayham presented Governor Ganz with physical copies of the Louisiana House of Representatives’ resolutions and reiterated his dedication to supporting the residents of Judea and Samaria and advocating for the application of Israeli sovereignty in the region. “I believe Israel has the right to live in the heart of the Biblical homeland, in Judea and Samaria,” said Bayham during the visit. He elaborated on the complex legal situation in those areas: “Judea and Samaria are still governed by Jordanian law and, in some cases, even Ottoman law — which creates legal gray areas and a lack of proper governance,” Bayham explained. He noted that this scenario is difficult for Americans to comprehend. “It would be like if Mississippi had applied Spanish rule to certain communities, or if Louisiana had applied French rule to certain communities,” he said. “There’s a duality in Israel that many back home simply don’t understand — it’s almost incomprehensible.” Bayham expressed his hope that extending Israeli sovereignty would help improve conditions for everyone living in the region. “It will lead to the development of roads and infrastructure that serve the entire population. Louisiana stands with Israel during this complex time.”
Governor Ganz expressed his gratitude for Bayham’s unwavering support. “True friends like Mike Bayham are a valuable asset to the State of Israel. They bring the truth about Israel to the United States and strengthen the bond between our two countries.”
To round out the visit, Bayham toured Ancient Shiloh, a significant heritage site, where he was guided by Eliana Passentin, Director of the International Desk at the Binyamin Regional Council.
{Matzav.com Israel}