Laursen: U.S. must support Israel

CODY — A Powell legislator was moved by testimony from a woman whose relatives were killed during the October 7 attacks in Israel in 2023.

Sen. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, related that reaction during a presentation on his participation in a conference of 250 American legislators in Israel earlier this fall.

On an invitation from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Laursen traveled to Tel Aviv on September 14, returning to the United States on September 18. With other legislators, he visited numerous Israeli landmarks, including the Western Wall and various sites related to the October 7 attacks.

“It was amazing,” Laursen said of the trip. “... We have to support Israel. There are evil people out in the world.”

Laursen recounted his travels to a group of approximately 30 gathered at the Grizzly Room in the Cody Library, at an event hosted by Park County Conservative Women on November 12.

During a visit to the location of the October 7 attacks, Laursen retold the experience of seeing where Israelis were killed by Hamas forces. He traveled to the grounds of the Nova Music Festival, where more than 300 Israelis were killed.

“Militants killed some at point blank range, as they crouched on the ground,” Laursen said. “It’s just sick.”

During Laursen’s visit to a kibbutz that was attacked on October 7, he was led by a guide whose relatives died there.

“Her family, part of it, got murdered. You wonder how she could talk about it,” Laursen said with emotion.

The kibbutz was essentially a memorial for those who died or were taken hostage during the attacks. Multiple images Laursen showed displayed buildings pockmarked with bullet holes and singed from fires.

Laursen’s guide recounted the day of the attack, which came in multiple waves.

“She said the first wave (of attackers) were more elite and they didn’t do much of the killing. She said the second and third waves were more of the Gaza civilians, and they were the ones that did the worst,” Laursen said.

Legislators attended a memorial service to conclude the visit to the October 7 attacks, during which Laursen and his colleagues planted memorial trees.

Also during the trip, Laursen attended a reception featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I actually sat in the front row and shook his hand, it was pretty cool,” Laursen said.

Netanyahu’s speech was short, and he was flanked by numerous security personnel, afterwards greeting a few American guests before he quickly departed, Laursen said.

This story was published on Nov. 17, 2025.