President spoke at Israeli-US Council meeting • "We must never allow a regime calling for death to Israel or death for America to possess nuclear weapons" • Trump thanked tranquil band: "mighty inspiration" • Dr. Miriam Adelson: "The President knows the US is the strongest Standing with her allies "
US President at IAC Conference // Photo: AFP
The Israeli-American Council, the IAC, recorded a historic milestone in traffic life this morning, with a special speech by U.S. President Donald Trump to 4,000 participants in the organization's annual Florida conference.
President Trump opened his statement, saying: "Peace between Israel and the Palestinians is the hardest deal to have. But if Jared Kushner can't do it, it's impossible."
"I would like to note our great progress in strengthening Israel-US relations. So many of you voted for the previous administration - I don't think they like Israel so much. I do not understand that. Maybe explain to me. I am pleased to report that Israel-US relations are stronger than ever. Our companies want to achieve a fairer, safer, more peaceful world. The Jewish state has never had a better friend than your President, Donald J. Trump. "
"My administration made it clear that Israel has the full right to defend itself. Recognize the presence of Rachel Frankel and Bat Galim Sha'ar - mothers of two of the murdered boys, Naftali Frankel and Gil-Ad Sha'ar. I stopped funding for the Palestinian Authority. They have hundreds of millions and they say bad things about us, "Trump protested.
Trump strongly condemns Iran in his speech: "We are also facing Iran, the world's number one sponsor of terrorism. Sheldon told me that the best thing I did was cancel the terrible nuclear deal with Iran. They may or may not attack. Let us see what happens. We will never allow them nuclear weapons. Maybe we will reach an agreement. The US will always stand with the Iranian people in its just fight for freedom. We must never allow a regime that calls death to Israel or death for America to possess nuclear weapons. Throughout history, anti-Semitism has led to indescribable evil. My administration is committed to fighting anti-Semitism by whatever means and resources it needs. "Trump added:" My administration is strongly condemning the BDS movement. "
Trump addressed the transfer of the US Embassy to the Rogue, saying, "When they realized I was going to move the embassy, I got phones from all the world leaders who warned me not to do that. I said - tell these people I will call back, I'm so busy. And then the days passed, and I announced the move, And Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Last day, two days passed, and there was no violence. I heard there would be tremendous violence. It was Pike News. "
The audience during the Trump speech at the IAC conference // Photo: AFP
Trump also said: "People in our country should love Israel more. There are Jews here who do not like Israel enough." Trump thanked members of the "Peaceful" band, who performed at the event, saying, "I want to thank a peaceful band for their amazing performance. Millions watched them at Irvation, they are a huge inspiration."
Miriam Adelson introduced the president to the audience, saying: "Our keynote speaker today is entitled to our thanks regardless of our political position. Where his predecessors - he exists and recognized Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital. While his predecessors himself are eyes - he recognized the Golan Heights as a sovereign Israeli territory. Make history when he declared that everything was right and there was no problem with Jewish housing in all parts of historic Israel. He knows that the United States is strongest with its allies. When one of the two becomes mighty again, so does the other. "
IAC CEO Shalam Nicolette spoke with Israel Today about the significance of the President's speech at the conference. "This is a historic speech for us - both as a community of immigrants and as a young pro-Israeli organization," Nicollet stated. For us, but for anyone who loves Israel and all pro-Israel organizations. There is a president who thinks it appropriate to speak to such an organization about Israel's love for the United States and vice versa. " Even before Trump's speech, the IAC CEO said he expects to hear from the president about his commitment to the Israeli-American connection. "I would also like to hear from him about the war on anti-Semitism and hatred against US Jews, as well as our contribution as American Israelis to American society," He added.
Nicollet dismissed criticism in recent weeks from US Jewish personalities who claimed that Trump should not take the stage at the conference. "There is one president of the United States and he is called President Trump," he stressed. "Organizations and anyone who cares about the issues we deal with - and we all agree on the love for Israel and the war on anti-Semitism - if you want to make a difference you have to bring the most important person. There is one person, and no other in the US, who come to a lot of decisions every day that we don't even know on them. That person needs to make a decision at that moment. The question is whether or not we want these decisions to benefit the Jewish people and Israel. We are grateful that he comes here. It's a great honor for us, and we hope it's a precedent for the President to come here every year. "
This is the sixth year the IAC convenes for a major conference, and over the years the number of participants has increased from 500 to 4,300 this year, and the keynote speaker has become a government official for the president himself. But Nicolette doesn't settle for that; "We have 22 branches today, 104 campuses, 73 communities," he said. "And we want to become one of the three leading US-American organizations. It should be the organization that is the most important bridge in the US for connecting to Israel - the name of the IAC should be. "
Even before the President's speech, quite a few record moments were recorded at the conference. Former Governor of the Bank of Israel, renowned economist Stanley Fisher, warned of the continuing political uncertainty in Israel and its potential effects on the financial market. "The current governor cannot appoint a deputy because it is a transitional government that cannot approve such an appointment," Fisher said. "I am convinced that many other things that need to be done have slowed down - and that can end badly. Fortunately, at least on government security issues can make decisions. In any case, the state needs a permanent government with a vision, there are many things that need to be addressed."
The head of the Democratic Israel List and Meretz Chairman MK Nitzan Horowitz also addressed the shaky political situation, and in an interview with the editor-in-chief of Israel Today, Boaz Bismuth, he emphasized the importance of sharing Israeli Arabs in the government and the public sector. "It is important that we recognize that Israel has a large Arab minority," Horowitz said. "They are citizens of equal rights to everything, and we understand that there is no future for Israel as a Jewish and democratic state without Jewish-Arab cooperation. If we ensure the participation of Israeli Arabs in the government and its body, we will all benefit." Horwitz is also required for the state of affairs, explaining that his support for a Palestinian state "does not stem from Palestinian love." "I support the establishment of a Palestinian state because I believe it is in Israel's favor," he clarified. The chairman of Meretz made quite a stir in the crowd when he expressed support for the partition of Jerusalem. "Jerusalem is already one of the most wonderful cities in the world, and it will be even more wonderful as the capital of both nations," he said.
Young fan awaits President's speech // Photo: AFP
Beyond the public, about 4,300 on the conference island have won quite a few exciting moments. Yiftach Ramon, the son of the late Ilan Verona Ramon and the brother of the late Asaf Ramon, told of the activities of the Ramon Foundation, an association in memory of his family that promotes social causes in Israel. "I'm here to tell you that my family and I refuse to allow Ramon to become synonymous with tragedy or bereavement," said Yiftach. "He is not. Our last name should symbolize hope, fulfillment of dreams, and growth out of crisis. We channel our tragedies into the power of good. I am here to tell you that every person can take pain, grief or bereavement and turn it into acts, deeds that create a better future ". Rachel Frankel, mother of the late Naftali Frankel, also excited those present in a speech calling for unity between the Israelis themselves, and between Israelis and US Jewry. Evie Steinberg, the mother of Lone Soldier Max Steinberg who was killed in Operation Protective Edge, told of the special relationship that was established between her family and Israel after her son's death, and described how Max's funeral reached tens of thousands of Israelis, most of whom did not even know the soldier who was killed.
The Shalva band, which consists of musicians and singers with disabilities, also left no dry eye in the crowd, with exciting performances, including the songs "Jerusalem of Gold" and "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. While "Shalva" received a lot of applause and tears, the conference attendees got to dance and sing for about two hours with a nearly full reunion of the legendary Hive Band members, plus the iconic Mazi Cohen. Gidi Gov, Danny Sanderson, Alon Olarczyk, Ephraim Shamir and even Meir Fenigstein (Fogi), in a guest performance, danced the Israeli-American audience until the late hours of the night.
