Fetterman visited Israel on trip paid for by NYC Jewish mental health nonprofit

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman visited Israel on a trip paid for by a New York City-based Jewish mental health nonprofit.

Fetterman took the trip in March, flying first class to Israel with his wife Gisele and staying in five-star hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as part of a “fact-finding mission,” according to travel disclosure documents from April, The Intercept reported Wednesday.

The three-day trip cost over $36,000 and was funded by Relief Resources, a nonprofit that describes itself as “dedicated to supporting the international Jewish community in overcoming the broad range of conditions related to mental illness.”

Fetterman visited Israel during a state work period, which is usually when senators engage with their constituents.

He has strongly supported Israel following the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the March trip “to discuss the current state of affairs in Israel and Israel’s response to the mental health crisis following the October 7th terrorist attacks.”

Netanyahu gave Fetterman a silver pager in commemoration of Israel's attack on Lebanon, which included the use of exploding pagers.

The senator was also honored at a Jerusalem gala for his “leadership in mental health awareness and legislative advocacy.”

Fetterman's trip from a mental health nonprofit comes as he has missed 30 floor votes this year and canceled town halls in his home state while also receiving scrutiny over his own mental health and ability to fulfill his responsibilities as a senator.

Neither Fetterman's office nor Relief Resources responded to The Intercept's requests for comment.