Vice President Mike Pence keynoted the 2018 Israeli-American Council conference in south Florida praising the strengthening bond between the United States and Israel and condemning anti-Semitism.
Pence began the speech calling President Trump “the most pro-Israel president in American history” and cited members of the administration such as United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, White House adviser Jared Kushner and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as examples of an “administration that stands with Israel.”
“We stand with Israel because her cause is our cause,” Pence said. “Her values are our values.”
Pence added, “Standing with Jewish values isn’t a partisan issue, it’s an American issue.”
The vice president also praised Miriam Adelson – who introduced Pence along with her husband, billionaire Sheldon Adelson – for being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom before he praised Trump for making “the alliance between American and Israel stronger than ever before.”
“President Trump is a man of his word, and is a man of action,” Pence said, referring to the administration’s zeroing out of funding to the Palestinians, exiting from the “disastrous” Iran nuclear deal, withdrawing from the U.N. Human Rights Council and moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as examples of U.S. support.
“Promises made, promises kept,” Pence said.
“There is no place in America for anti-Semitism and violence, and we will … condemn it everywhere it rears its ugly head.” — Mike Pence
Regarding Airbnb’s decision to remove listings from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Pence said, “The boycott, divestment and sanctions movement is wrong and it has no place in the free enterprise of the United States of America.”
Additionally, Pence said that although the administration’s upcoming peace proposal between the Israelis and the Palestinians will require compromise, “the United States will never compromise the safety and security of the Jewish state of Israel.”
The vice president proceeded to condemn Hamas’ repeated rocket attacks against Israel, but pointed out that Hamas and Hezbollah are essentially “pawns” of the Iranian regime.
“While Iran continues to pursue its evil aims, let me make a solemn promise to you, to Israel, to the world: the U.S. will never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Pence said.
Pence also praised the Jewish people as “one of the most vibrant threads in the American fabric,” condemning the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in which 11 were killed as “evil.”
“This anti-Semitic attack was an assault not just on the Jewish community, it was an assault on all of us in America,” Pence said.
Pence added, “There is no place in America for anti-Semitism and violence and we will… condemn it everywhere it rears its ugly head.”
The vice president concluded his speech on a “promise of hope” for the future.
“I’m confident in the years ahead that the friendship between America and Israel will flourish as never before,” Pence said.
