U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher describes his fact-finding trip to Israel as educational and emotional

Describing his first trip to Israel as both an emotional and an educational experience, U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher checked in by telephone Thursday night from the Sea of Galilee. Fincher and his wife, Lynn, have traveled all over the region since Monday and have met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and senior Palestinian officials but not President Mahmoud Abbas, who had a scheduling conflict Wednesday and had to be in Lebanon, Fincher said.