Mike Pence tells Israeli leaders of US intention to withdraw from Iran deal
Vice president concludes trip to the Holy Land by meeting with Israel's head of state and visiting the Western Wall
US vice president Mike Pence has reiterated to Israeli leaders that the Trump administration plans to pull out of the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal unless the pact is amended.
The remarks came as Mr Pence wrapped up his visit to Israel. On Monday, he repeatedly referred to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, speaking alongside the country’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also used a high-profile speech to the parliament to announce plans to speed up the timing of the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, moving it from Tel Aviv, by the end of 2019.
On Tuesday, Mr Pence met with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and vowed the United States would counter the Iranian nuclear threat.
He then headed to the most emotional part of his visit, a tribute to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and a visit to the Western Wall. He was to depart later in the day.
Mr Rivlin praised Mr Pence’s speech to parliament and his role in pushing for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“You are a mensch,” Mr Rivlin told a smiling Mr Pence.
Mr Pence also repeated the administration’s plan to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, which has been vociferously opposed by Israel, unless the pact is enforced and amended. He noted US efforts to gain support from European allies to address what he described as flawed parts of the agreement, adding President Donald Trump “has made clear” the US will leave the nuclear deal if that does not happen.
“We are sending a signal to our European allies that the time has come for changes in the Iran nuclear deal,” Mr Pence said, sitting alongside Mr Rivlin. “Punitive sanctions will be available for many years to come to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and you have our commitment to work closely with our allies around the world to achieve that.”
Mr Pence’s trip to the Middle East also included stops in Egypt and Jordan.
Mr Pence’s aides said the vice president would be making “a personal visit”, in the same manner in which Mr Trump prayed at the Western Wall during his visit to Israel last year. But in late 2017, Trump officials said, while the ultimate borders of the holy city must be resolved through negotiations, they could not “envision any situation under which the Western Wall would not be part of Israel”.
During Mr Pence’s speech to Knesset on Monday, several Arab politicians shouted and raised signs that said: “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine” before they were forcibly removed from the plenum.
Palestinian leaders have assailed the Jerusalem move and refused to meet with Mr Pence. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas snubbed the vice president by overlapping with Mr Pence in Jordan during the weekend but not meeting with him.
The Palestinians have pre-emptively rejected any peace proposal floated by the Trump administration amid concerns it would fall far below their hopes for an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza, lands captured by Israel in the 1967 war.
Mr Abbas’ ruling Fatah party called for a general strike on Tuesday to protest against Mr Pence’s visit and Mr Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem. The strike is meant to include shops, public transport, banks and most of the public sector aside from schools and hospitals.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
