Rep. Ellison heads to the Middle East

by Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is touring the Middle East this week, as part of a Brookings Institution initiative to improve relations in the region.

Ellison is touring the Gaza strip and Israel today, looking over the ruins of the recent fighting there. He said he's been past a burned-out hospital and wrecked homes.

Ellison spoke with MPR News from the ruins of a high school that he said American taxpayers had helped build.

"Why would this school, the American International school get bombed?" he said. "Just thinking about these seniors and all the kids that go to this school and how we're trying to create kids with a democratic and liberal education, and how now all those dreams have just collapsed with this building."

Ellison said he thinks America has an opportunity to improve ties in the Middle East by helping the recovery in Gaza.

He said he is also visiting areas in Israel hit by Hamas rockets, and talking to Israeli Defense Force officers about the fighting later today.