News / Foreign Policy

US VP assures GOP Jewish leaders of strong support for Israel

Saturday, 25 February 2017 8:20 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 25 February 2017 8:26 AM ]

US Vice President Mike Pence applauds during the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership meeting, February 24, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Photo by AFP)

Vice President Mike Pence has assured the Republican Jewish establishment that US bonds with Israel will grow stronger under the new administration.

"We're going to keep our end of the bargain," Pence told the Republican Jewish Coalition during the group’s annual leadership meeting on Friday. "If the world knows nothing else, the world will know this: America stands with Israel."

Many within the Republican Jewish establishment had grown frustrated with former president Barack Obama, who did not have a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Pence told Republican donors and Jewish leaders at Sheldon Adelson's landmark Venetian hotel that America’s ties with Israel were already stronger under President Donald Trump.

The vice president went on to deliver a long message of thanks to Adelson, the country’s biggest Republican donor.

"Your leadership, I believe, will impact this nation and the Jewish state of Israel for generations to come," Pence said of Adelson. The pair had privately met just before the conference and discussed the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson is greeted by a guest at the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual meeting. (Photo by AFP)

The vice president said that the White House might eventually decide to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds.

Trump had pledged during his presidential campaign that he would relocate the US embassy. Palestinians as well as a large group of US politicians have warned against the move, saying it would send a clear message that Washington supports the recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

The United Nations officially terms East al-Quds as Palestinian territory, occupied by Israel.

Pence promised that the Trump administration would combat the "endless bias" of the UN.

In a major rebuke to Israel, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in December demanding the regime "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds)."

The Obama administration abstained from the vote, allowing the resolution to be adopted.

During his speech, Pence also hit on several topics that were key to Trump’s campaign last year, including jobs and national security.

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