US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than him because, unlike his predecessors, "I kept my promises."
Trump energized a large audience at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida by recounting his record on issues of importance to Jews, including an extensive riff on his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and relocate the US Embassy there from Tel Aviv.
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"It's truly my honor to be here this evening, to celebrate our progress, to deepen the incredible partnership between the United States and Israel, and it suffered greatly in the last administration. I don't think they liked Israel too much, I'm sorry," he said.
"After eight long years in which our alliance was undermined and neglected, I'm happy to report that the United States-Israeli relationship is stronger now than ever before."
Trump said his predecessors had promised to move the embassy but only paid lip service to the issue.
"They never had any intention of doing it, in my opinion," Trump said. "But unlike other presidents, I kept my promises."
Trump also highlighted his decision earlier this year to reverse more than a half-century of US policy in the Middle East by recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic highlands on the border with Syria.
In his speech, the president also claimed that there are some Jewish people in America who don't love Israel enough.
"We have to get the people of our country, of this country, to love Israel more, I have to tell you that. We have to do it. We have to get them to love Israel more," Trump said, to some applause. "Because you have Jewish people that are great people – they don't love Israel enough."
Trump noted how, in recent weeks, "When rockets have been launched at Israel from Gaza, my administration has stood with Israel and its right to self-defense. We've called for the release of Israeli hostages and the remains of Israeli soldiers returned to Israel by Hamas."
He noted the recent elimination of Islamic leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and declared, "Our message to the bloodthirsty terrorists is clear: You don't stand a chance against the awesome power of the United States military."
The president also mentioned his decision to sign the Taylor Force Act into law, as well. That law will put a stop to American economic aid to the Palestinian Authority until it ceases funding terrorism.
The Israeli American Council is financially backed by one of Trump's top supporters, the husband-and-wife duo of Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino magnate.
Both Adelsons appeared on stage to introduce Trump, with Dr. Miriam Adelson asserting that Trump "has already gone down in the annals of Jewish history, and that is before he's even completed his first term in office."
The Adelsons donated $30 million to Trump's campaign in the final months of the 2016 race. They followed up by donating $100 million to the Republican Party for last November's congressional elections.
Trump's entourage at the event included Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, along with Republican Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), whom he described as "two warriors" defending him against "oppression" in the impeachment inquiry.
Trump criticized Israel's sworn enemy, Iran, saying he withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal with other world powers because Tehran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon
But Trump voiced support for Iranian citizens who have been protesting a decision by their government to withdraw fuel subsidies, which sent prices skyrocketing.
Trump said that he believes thousands of Iranians have been killed in the protests and that thousands more have been arrested.
"America will always stand with the Iranian people in their righteous struggle for freedom," he said.
The president introduced his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who has played a leading role in helping the administration craft its Mideast peace plan.
A self-described deal-maker, Trump said he had long been told that achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians would be the hardest deal of all.
But ″ïf Jared Kushner can't do it, it can't be done," Trump said.
The White House has said its Mideast peace plan is complete and had promised to release it after Israeli elections in September. The long-delayed plan remains under wraps, and Israel appears headed for its third round of elections this year.
The plan also is facing rejection by Palestinian officials, who object to the pro-Israel leanings of the Trump administration.
During his speech, Trump also name-dropped Rep. Ilhan Omar, (D-Minn.), criticizing her for supporting the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel. In August, at Trump's urging, Israel denied Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, (D-Mich.) – the first two Muslim women elected to Congress and outspoken critics of Israel – entry to the country over their support for the BDS movement.
"My administration strongly opposes this despicable rhetoric," Trump said. "As long as I am your president, it makes no difference. It's not happening."
Before addressing the Israeli American Council summit, Trump spoke at the Florida Republican Party's Statesman's Dinner in nearby Aventura. The state GOP closed the event to media coverage.
To mark the two-year anniversary of Trump's historic decision to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman on Friday said on Twitter that the Jewish people's 2,000-year-old "quest to reestablish their holy city was finally realized" thanks to Trump's "courageous and historic act."
2 yrs ago today, @POTUS recognized #Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In so doing, the Jewish People's 2K yr old unwavering quest to reestablish their holy city was finally realized. I, & millions more, will always be grateful to our President for this courageous & historic act pic.twitter.com/HHz8sZ6xy2
— David M. Friedman (@USAmbIsrael) December 6, 2019
Full disclosure: The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.
