Trump's Deputy Emphasizes Support for Israel and Confrontation with Iran

The Vice President of the United States emphasized Washington's support for Israel's security and 'confrontation with Iran,' stating that the Trump administration is 'seriously' considering the transfer of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. According to the Jerusalem Post, Mike Pence made these remarks on Sunday, April 6, in front of 18,000 attendees at the AIPAC conference. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC, is a powerful pro-Israel lobby in the U.S. that began its annual meeting on April 6. Pence told the AIPAC attendees that Donald Trump is a 'man of action' and 'a man who delivers on his promises,' adding, 'After a long time, America has a president who stands with his allies to confront common enemies.' Pence further stated, 'The world is aware that America stands with Israel.' He also assured Israel's supporters that the security of this country is a 'fundamental principle' for the U.S., and that American decisions and actions will never undermine Israel's security. Pence said that when America claims to be committed to Israel's security, it entails a decisive policy against Iran. The U.S. is monitoring Iran, and 'Iran's actions that threaten regional stability and jeopardize Israel's security will no longer be tolerated.' Pence asserted that the Trump administration will never allow Iran to achieve nuclear (military) capability. He also stated that the U.S. will oppose the previous UN approach of continuously criticizing and condemning Israel. Pence emphasized that the Trump administration is 'seeking a just peace' for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He reiterated the promise that the Trump administration has not deviated from the idea of transferring the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump had promised during his campaign to move the embassy to Jerusalem based on a 20-year-old congressional resolution, but he has not reiterated this since entering the White House, and this issue was not raised in the recent Netanyahu-Trump meeting a few weeks ago. It seems that the intense sensitivity of the Palestinians and some warnings from leaders of Arab countries allied with the U.S. regarding the consequences of the embassy transfer have made the U.S. cautious in pursuing Trump's promise. Meanwhile, Netanyahu welcomed the final appointment of David Friedman as Trump's ambassador to Israel. In recent days, the U.S. Congress confirmed Friedman with a narrow majority as ambassador. Friedman, who has previously supported settlement expansion and the transfer of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, stated that regardless of his personal views, he will now implement Washington's policies.