Pompeo: US officials try to thwart Avraham agreements to help Palestinians | Israel Today

Former US Secretary of State at the Anti-Semitism Movement Conference: "Our pressure on Iran has reduced the risk of terrorism, we have made it clear to the Gulf leaders that we will defend them."

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Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is blaming elements within the US and Europe for trying to prevent the historic breakthrough of the Abrahamic Accords, with the aim of helping the Palestinians keep their cause at the top of the political agenda.

In a speech at the annual conference of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, on the occasion of receiving an award on its behalf, Pompeo spoke out against opposition to the agreements and said that the Russians would have preferred the agreements not to happen - and so did politicians within the United States and Europe.

"They wanted to preserve the illusion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the key to stability in the region. When they realized that an intifada would not break out and that warm relations could be established between the countries in the region, they understood that our approach was right," he said.

Pompeo estimated that there would be many countries joining the Abrahamic Accords and said he hoped Saudi Arabia would find a way to do so, alongside other Muslim countries outside the Middle East.

Pompeo also spoke of the processes that preceded the Abrahamic Accords, saying that "as the Palestinians continued to say no and no and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict did not move forward, we decided to move forward and encouraged other Middle Eastern countries to establish relations with Israel. Leaders there said they did not want the Palestinians." They said they wanted a relationship that was not based on hatred. "

Pompeo: "Peace agreements express Iran's declining power in the region" // Photo Archive: GPO

Pompeo estimated that the agreements would last and said: "The people of Sudan, Bahrain and the UAE will not go back."

He expressed optimism about the future: "I believe that more states will join the momentum that has been created, and I hope that the Palestinians will also join the process while recognizing Israel's just right to exist."

Pompeo attributed the breakthrough that led to the Avraham agreements to a conference held in Warsaw in 2019: "It was a historic meeting. When Netanyahu arrived and foreign ministers from the Gulf countries sat in the room, that was the moment I realized there was a commitment by the parties to find the way."

"Ask Zarif and Rouhani if ​​our sanctions have worked"

Referring to Iran, Pompeo said that "the Abrahamic agreements would not have happened without a 180-degree change of the US administration led by President Trump towards Iran. The previous administration decided to make a deal with Iran, a deal that ultimately helped Iran continue to develop its nuclear program."

Pompeo referred to talks with Gulf leaders and said the United States had promised to protect them from Iran.

He said he had made it clear to them at the time that Iran would bear the consequences of its threatening policy not only towards Israel but also towards Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"Without this I do not think the Abrahamic agreements could have happened," Pompeo said.

As for US sanctions on Iran, Pompeo said the world thought they would not work alone and said: "Well, ask the ayatollahs, Zarif and Rouhani whether our sanctions worked or not. We put significant pressure on Iran, prevented them from supporting Hezbollah and Shiite militias in Iran and denied them sums. Huge money - and America was strong.Our pressure on Iran has reduced the risk of terrorism in the region.

"President Trump was willing to do the right thing regarding Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, who was responsible for so many deaths in the region, including hundreds of Americans, and we killed him. When leaders in the Arab world saw the US doing it, they knew it was their partner and they could go down. That their people wanted: to fight anti-Semitism and build peace agreements. "These issues are interconnected, Pompeo noted.

Regarding the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, Pompeo said he remembered the opposition within the administration, and that he also remembered those who said an attack on Qassem Suleimani would ignite the region - but in fact the exact opposite happened: "Our recognition of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights is part of Israel. Recognition of these facts has shown the world strength, clarity and transparency. "

Pompeo noted that one of his most significant memories of his visits to Israel was his historic visit to Judea and Samaria: "I was the first Secretary of State to visit there and meet the good people who try to do the right thing for themselves and their families, community and country."

"We will declare BDS an antisemitic movement": Pompeo in a statement in Jerusalem // Archive photo: GPO

As mentioned, the anti-Semitism movement awarded Pompeo the Leadership Award for his contribution to the fight against anti-Semitism tonight (Israel time).

The award was presented to him by Natan Sharansky and Sasha Roitman Dartwa, the movement's director general. The certificate of appreciation states that the movement "honors Secretary Pompeo for his extraordinary and groundbreaking activities in the fight against anti-Semitism, his deep connection with the Jewish people and the State of Israel." They have paved the way for peace in the Middle East and new alliances in the fight against anti-Semitism. "

The conference was held virtually today (Monday), with the participation of President Reuven Rivlin, Minister of Diaspora Omar Yankelevich, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations and the United States Gilad Ardan, Moroccan Ambassador to the United Nations Omar Hilal, US Congressmen Ted Deutsch and Josh Guttheimer. The movement's board member Natan Sharansky, IHRA outgoing president Michaela Kushler, the outgoing emissary of the US administration to fight anti-Semitism Ilan Carr (who recently joined the movement's board), representatives from Jewish, Christian and Muslim organizations members of the movement's coalition, activists and more. From around the world, and more than 300,000 people have signed the petition against anti-Semitism on behalf of the organization.

"Appreciable Commitment"

President Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin said at the conference that just as Corona is fighting together, so too is the fight against the virus of anti-Semitism and hatred.

Rivlin further said that a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, racism and extremism should be pursued.

The Israeli Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, Gilad Ardan, congratulated Pompeo on receiving the Leadership Award at the conference, and said that his exceptional commitment and activity to the security of the Jewish people and the State of Israel is commendable.

Ambassador Arden said he intended to work for the UN not only to speak out against anti-Semitism but to take significant action: "I will work for UN institutions to adopt the definition of anti-Semitism so that anti-Semitic actions can be taken, which are too prevalent in UN bodies."

Arden said he intended to take action against Holocaust denial, which he called "very dangerous." Referring to Iran, the ambassador said that the continuation of severe sanctions on Iran and a real military threat to it could lead to a better agreement with Iran: "The most antisemitic regime in the world must not be allowed to obtain the most dangerous weapons in the world."