‘Valuable progress’ already made toward Mideast peace, Pence says – Jerusalem Post Israel News

Vice President Mike Pence gives a statement after a meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 20, 2017. . (photo credit:REUTERS)

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration has already reconstituted the Middle East peace process by fostering "goodwill" amongst Israelis and Palestinians, US Vice President Mike Pence said at an Israeli Independence Day reception held at the White House on Tuesday.

Reiterating the president's "personal commitment to resolving the Israeli and Palestinian conflict," Pence said the new administration had found a way to pursue peace whilst simultaneously devoting itself to securing the Jewish state.

"Even now, were making valuable progress toward the noble goal of peace," Pence said. "Thanks to the presidents tireless leadership, momentum is building and goodwill is growing. And that while there will undoubtedly have to be compromises, you can rest assured President Donald Trump will never compromise the safety and security of the Jewish state of Israel not now, not ever."

Pence said that Trump's appointment of Friedman and of US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley were examples of his "unapologetic" commitment to Israel. So, too, is his consideration of a plan to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a policy initiative he is seriously considering "as we speak," Pence told the crowd.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit the White House on Wednesday.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, US ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) attended the White House reception, which brought together several leaders of the Jewish American community as well as Israel's ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer.

Executive Director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center Nathan Diament, who was at the event called it historic in the literal sense.

No one was able to think of a previous occasion in which the White House hosted a reception specifically in honor of Yom Haatzmaut, he told the Post. That says something special about the United States and about the US- Israel relationship.

Certainly for those of us in the room who are religious Zionists, with the talk on the part of the Vice President and Senator Hatch about [...] their great support for Israel is incredibly encouraging and affirming, he added.

Regarding Vice President Pences remarks about the US embassy move to Jerusalem, Diament said that while the administration is seriously considering it, the subject will also depend on the conversation between Trump and Abbas on Wednesday.

In a room full of Jewish people there isnt really consensus, he said. But if there is any point of consensus, I think it would be that there is an expectation [among Jewish leaders] that President Trump and his administration will try to push ahead with President Abbas some ideas towards negotiations.

Pence said he called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wish him a "happy Independence Day" before the event. The Israeli embassy hosts a separate party to mark the holiday on Tuesday evening.

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'Valuable progress' already made toward Mideast peace, Pence says - Jerusalem Post Israel News