Sam,
Is the below statement correct?
Based on publicly available information, there is *no evidence that **Sam
Liccardo** has traveled to Gaza*.
For the *West Bank*, I also could not find evidence that he has personally
visited. Searches of his public statements, biography, congressional
materials, and news coverage do not document a trip there.
There is, however, evidence that he *visited Israel*:
- In a public post marking the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023
attacks, Liccardo wrote that he had visited *Kibbutz K’far Aza* in *December
2019*, recalling the people he met there.
It’s worth noting that some members of Congress have publicly documented
trips to both Israel and the Palestinian territories, but I did not find
Sam Liccardo listed among those delegations.
So, the available evidence indicates:
- *Gaza:* No public evidence that he has traveled there.
- *West Bank:* No public evidence that he has traveled there.
- *Israel:* Yes—he has publicly stated that he visited Israel in
December 2019.
On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:26 PM Aram James
wrote:
> 7/18/2028
>
> Hi Sam,
>
> Further research suggests you also went on another trip to Israel on
> AIPAC’s dime (2019) when you were mayor or on the San Jose City Council?
>
> True?
>
> False?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Avram
>
>
>
> According to the publicly available travel request, city records, and
> congressional travel disclosures, Sam Liccardo’s documented AIEF-sponsored
> trip to Israel in *December 2019* was described as an educational seminar
> focused on Israeli society, security, innovation, and the U.S.–Israel
> relationship.
>
> The stated purpose of the trip included:
>
> - Learning about Israel’s political system and society.
> - Discussing regional security issues and U.S.–Israel relations.
> - Visiting sites related to innovation and technology.
> - Meeting with political, security, and community leaders.
> - Exploring historical and religious locations.
>
> Typical activities on these AIEF educational seminars include:
>
> - Briefings from Israeli government and military officials.
> - Discussions with foreign policy experts.
> - Visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other cities.
> - Tours of historical, archaeological, and religious sites.
> - Visits to areas near Israel’s borders to receive security briefings.
> - Meetings with Israeli academics, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit
> leaders.
>
> The San Jose City Council memorandum authorizing Liccardo’s travel
> specifically identified the trip as an *Educational Seminar in Israel for
> Pacific Northwest Progressive Leaders*, with travel to *Jerusalem, Tel
> Aviv, and Tiberias*, and stated that all travel expenses would be paid by
> the *American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)*.
>
> The value of the trip reported in ethics disclosures was approximately
> *$12,345*, covering airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel-related
> expenses, paid by AIEF under applicable ethics rules.
>
> If you’re interested, I can also summarize the *day-by-day itinerary* for
> the 2019 seminar, including the cities visited and the types of meetings
> and site visits participants attended.
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:16 PM Aram James wrote:
>
>> Sam,
>>
>>
>> Is the below information accurate?
>>
>> The publicly available House travel disclosure for Sam Liccardo’s
>> congressional trip to Israel, the reported value of the trip was
>> approximately *$12,345.02*.
>>
>> The sponsor-reported breakdown was:
>>
>> - Transportation: *$5,598.40*
>> - Lodging: *$1,696.00*
>> - Meals: *$1,260.06*
>> - Other expenses (such as ground transportation, guides, admissions,
>> etc.): *$3,790.56*
>>
>> *Total reported value:* *$12,345.02*.
>>
>> According to the disclosure, these expenses were paid by the *American
>> Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)*, a nonprofit affiliated with AIPAC
>> that sponsors educational travel for members of Congress under House ethics
>> rules.
>>
>> If you’re interested, I can also summarize *who Liccardo met on the
>> trip, what sites he visited, and the stated purpose of the travel* from
>> the official itinerary and ethics filings.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 2:47 PM Aram James wrote:
>>
>>> Sam,
>>>
>>> Is the below information correct?
>>>
>>> I searched for additional records covering Sam Liccardo’s career before
>>> and after entering Congress.
>>>
>>> Based on the publicly available evidence I could find:
>>>
>>> - *There is one publicly documented official trip to Israel.*
>>> - *The trip was paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation
>>> (AIEF)*, a nonprofit organization affiliated with AIPAC that
>>> sponsors educational trips for members of Congress.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 11:21 AM Aram James wrote:
>>>
>>>> Youre welcome, Sam!! I will get back to you with a more substantive
>>>> response in the near future. In the meantime, I have a few questions for
>>>> you below. I look forward to your responses.
>>>>
>>>> Peace,
>>>>
>>>> Avram Finkelstein aka Aram James
>>>>
>>>> **One of your proud Jewish constituents who wants the vile war-crimes
>>>> state of Israel eliminated.
>>>>
>>>> P.S.
>>>>
>>>> 1 How many times have you traveled to Israel?
>>>>
>>>> 2. If so, under what circumstances?
>>>>
>>>> 3. Were your trips to Israel, if you in fact went, paid for by AIPAC
>>>> money?
>>>>
>>>> 4. If not, who paid for your trips?
>>>>
>>>> 5. When you were mayor of San Jose or on city council, who paid for
>>>> your trips to Israel?
>>>>
>>>> 6. Have you traveled to Palestine? Gaza? West Bank? Other locations in
>>>> Palestine?
>>>>
>>>> 7. If not, why have you not taken a fact-finding trip to Gaza and the
>>>> West Bank?
>>>>
>>>> 8. Have you publicly called for a one-state solution?
>>>>
>>>> 9. Have you publicly condemned Israel 🇮🇱 as a war-crimes genocidal
>>>> state? If Not, Why Not?
>>>>
>>>> 19. Have you publicly called for the elimination of the rogue apartheid
>>>> state, war-crimes state of Israel? If Not, Why Not, Sam?
>>>>
>>>> ****Sam, Im proud of you for your willingness to open up a
>>>> constructive conversation with me on this critical issue. Look forward to
>>>> more of the same.
>>>>
>>>> Avram “Eliminate The State of Israel Now” Finkelstein
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM Sam Liccardo
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Thanks Aram.
>>>>> First, you’re incorrect: I’ve never received money directly from
>>>>> AIPAC, and they’re certainly not giving to me now. They will not
>>>>> accept contributions for me on their website, unlike hundreds of other
>>>>> members of Congress. Among the reasons why they won’t ever contribute to
>>>>> me is my cosponsorship of the “Block the Bombs” bill, and public statements
>>>>> like this:
>>>>> https://liccardo.house.gov/massie-amendment
>>>>>
>>>>> I’m sure I’ve received contributions from local community residents
>>>>> who are members of AIPAC, though not nearly as much as my opponent in 2024,
>>>>> and I’m also confident I received more contributions from members of the
>>>>> Muslim or Arab-American communities who object to the conduct of the
>>>>> Israeli leadership. I had to raise $6 million in that race, so the amounts
>>>>> you’re citing are less than 2% of my raise in that cycle.
>>>>> In your future missives, I encourage you to present facts more
>>>>> accurately and with relevant context.
>>>>> Sam
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sam Liccardo
>>>>> Member of Congress
>>>>> 16th District of California
>>>>> (this email is being sent from my private account, and is not official
>>>>> correspondence)
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 12:30 AM Aram James wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> For Sam Liccardo’s successful 2024 House campaign:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - *Direct AIPAC PAC contributions:* *$10,000* (the maximum PAC
>>>>>> contribution for the primary and general election combined). This would
>>>>>> appear in FEC filings as a contribution from the AIPAC PAC.
>>>>>> - *Including AIPAC-affiliated individual donors:* Public campaign
>>>>>> finance trackers report a total of *about $80,000–$90,000* in
>>>>>> support associated with AIPAC’s network during the 2023–2024 cycle. This
>>>>>> larger figure includes donations from individuals identified as part of
>>>>>> AIPAC’s donor network, not just the PAC itself.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So if someone says “Liccardo took *$10,000 from AIPAC*,” they’re
>>>>>> referring only to the PAC’s direct contribution. If they cite a figure
>>>>>> around *$80,000–$90,000*, they’re using a broader methodology that
>>>>>> includes affiliated individual donors as well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you’d like, I can also break down:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - the exact FEC entries for the $10,000,
>>>>>> - who the major AIPAC-affiliated individual donors were, or
>>>>>> - how Liccardo compares with other California members of Congress
>>>>>> on AIPAC-linked fundraising.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>