This commentary is by Stevie Paquette, a Colchester resident pursuing a master’s degree in social work, with an interest in ethics, human rights and Palestinian self-determination.  I am writing this as a Vermonter, a constituent and someone who is openly anti-Zionist and believes in the legitimacy and self-determination of the Palestinian people. I also believe deeply in ethical, transparent government and public accountability.  When a number of local lawmakers traveled to Israel on an all-expenses-paid trip arranged by foreign political organizations — not to mention an organization that has been accused by the UN of actively committing genocide — I reached out to my representatives with what I thought were reasonable questions. I didn’t demand outrage or resignations. I asked for some transparency.  Who paid for this trip? Who determined what our elected officials would see? And not see? What political organization curated this experience? Whose perspectives were intentionally excluded in this trip? I emailed five representatives. One responded. The reply from Rep. Sarita Austin, D-Colchester, was polite, but it largely shifted the conversation away from ethics and toward reminders about Hamas, personal reflections, a ChatGPT-generated history timeline and talking points about coexistence. My main concern — whether our lawmakers should be accepting foreign sponsored political travel at all — went unaddressed.  Meanwhile, these legislators have continued either to publicly defend the trip or completely ignore calls for answers, acting as if this questioning is somehow out of bounds.  With renewed reporting and formal ethics complaints now filed, I am reminded that these questions are not extreme. They were necessary.  This is not about choosing sides in a geopolitical conflict with deep historical roots. It is entirely possible, and I believe morally necessary, to condemn the violence of Hamas, acknowledge the grief and fear experienced by Israelis and still question whether elected officials should travel on trips curated and funded by organizations aligned with a government accused of serious, ongoing human rights violations.  Those things are not mutually exclusive.  The concern is about influence, not tourism.  Sponsored political trips exist because they work. They are designed to create warm positive impressions, establish relationships and loyalty and to take control and frame reality through their own lens. They shape what is seen as “normal” or “inevitable” or “reasonable.”  When lawmakers accept those invitations, it creates at minimum the appearance of undue influence and at worst risks normalizing and spreading propaganda.  It also sends a stark and painful message to Vermonters, especially Palestinian Vermonters and those who stand with them, that our government is comfortable participating in experiences curated by the very institutions accused of their oppression.  To raise these concerns is not antisemitic. It is not anti-Jewish. It is not even anti-Israel. It is simply ethical citizenship.  And, honestly, transparency should not be this controversial.  At a minimum, Vermonters should be able to expect full disclosure of who is funding travel, public itineraries, identification of the organizations arranging the meetings and clarity about the political aims of the trip’s sponsors.  These are basic standards, in many states required, and Vermont should be stronger, not weaker, on ethics.  When I wrote my representatives, I was not asking them to agree with my politics. I was asking them to model accountability. Instead, I received deflection and silence.  We deserve better.  I am anti-Zionist because I believe oppression cannot be justified by fear, history or identity. Palestinians have the right to exist, return, thrive and live with full human dignity. That doesn’t make me naïve, dangerous or unreasonable. It’s pretty simple to place human rights over nationalism. And that principle should be guiding our legislators’ ethics.  Lawmakers should not be accepting curated, paid-for political travel from any foreign government or advocacy network, regardless of ideology. Not from Israel. Not from anyone.  If legislators believe such trips are appropriate, then they should be willing and ready to answer, plainly, why and be transparent on details.  Until then, Vermonters will continue to raise these questions. And we should. Read the story on VTDigger here: Stevie Paquette: When ethics are questioned, Vermonters deserve answers — not sponsored narratives. ...read more read less