Mike Pence Promises To ‘Consider’ Embassy Move To Jerusalem At AIPAC

Vice President Mike Pence at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas, February 24, 2017 Image by Nathan Guttman

By Nathan Guttman March 27, 2017

Promising President Trump’s full support for Israel but offering few specifics, Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday the new administration is “giving serious consideration” to moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.

Pence, speaking to nearly 20,000 members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference for the lobby’s annual policy conference, sought to assure the pro-Israel community of the Trump administration’s backing, while also making clear that President Trump is interested in promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace, an issue that had led to friction between the Netanyahu government and the administration of former president Obama.

“President Trump is committed to forging a lasting peace in the Middle East,” Pence said, explaining that Trump is seeking an “equitable and just solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that while there will be need for compromise, Trump “ will never compromise the safety and security of the Jewish state of Israel.”

Pence’s remark come after talks between top Israeli and American negotiators failed to bring about an agreement on limiting Israel’s settlement activity and after a White House statement last Thursday noted Trump’s “concerns” over the settlement issue.

Pence also offered new wording on Trump’s campaign promise to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The President, according to Pence, is “giving serious consideration” to relocating the embassy.

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected]

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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