Congressman-elect Dan Crenshaw travels to Israel

Rep.-elect, Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas., right arrives for member-elect briefings on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Rep.-elect, Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas., right arrives for member-elect briefings on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Photo: Carolyn Kaster, STF / Associated Press Photo: Carolyn Kaster, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Congressman-elect Dan Crenshaw travels to Israel 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Before he officially takes office in January, U.S. Rep-elect Dan Crenshaw is in Israel to get a firsthand look at the key U.S. ally.

Crenshaw, R-Spring, has been posting regular updates on social media since Tuesday as he tours sites like the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall. Crenshaw also did an aerial tour of Israel and explored tunnels in Gaza that he said Hamas is using to commit terrorist acts.

Crenshaw is part of a group of 6 new members of Congress touring Israel as part of a trip paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of the politically powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee..

His travels to Israel come as other newly elected members of Congress have said they are not planning to travel to Israel through AIPAC. Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., will not join other new members of congress on an AIPAC-affiliated trip to Israel later this year, and does not have plans to go on any other trips to the region, a spokesperson for the Democrat to The Forward.

Israel from the air pic.twitter.com/WvhDd5JRW7 — Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) December 12, 2018

Crenshaw, 34, is no stranger to the Middle East. The retired Navy SEAL fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. And he said last year he spent 10 days touring Israel on an educational trek led by Jewish and Israeli students at Harvard University, where he received his master's degree.

“As a long-time supporter of Israel, I will ensure that our alliance does not waver, and that America continues to support Israeli security, advocate for her on the international stage, and contain the threat from Iran and terrorism across the region,” Crenshaw said during the campaign.

Crenshaw will represent the 2nd Congressional District in Houston and is replacing the retiring U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Atascocita.

Besides Crenshaw, members on the trip to Israel this week include Republicans Denver Riggleman, R-Va.; Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.; David Trone, D-Md.; Susie Lee, D-Ohio; and Elaine Luria, D-Va.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com