‘Message that Trump has given the world is that America stands by Israel,’ Netanyahu says

“This is the eve of Purim, and we have a miracle of Purim,” Netanyahu said in a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, after a visit to the Western Wall and Trump’s declaration recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

By World Israel News Staff

U.S. President Donald Trump declared recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on Thursday, after which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a call to the American leader to thank him.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an official visit to the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem together with Netanyahu and American Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

Following are excerpts from Netanyahu’s remarks at the joint statements with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem Thursday evening, regarding Trump’s declaration.

“I’m so excited. We’re so excited, Sara and I, to have you here, but especially on this evening. This is the eve of Purim, and we have a miracle of Purim.

“President Trump has just made history. I called him. I thanked him on behalf of the people of Israel. He did it again.

“First, he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the U.S. embassy here. Then he pulled out of the disastrous Iran treaty and re-imposed sanctions. But now he did something of equal historic importance – he recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and he did so at a time when Iran is trying to use Syria as a platform to attack and destroy Israel.

“And the message that President Trump has given the world is that America stands by Israel.

“We’re celebrating Purim, when 2,500 years ago, other Persians, led by Haman, tried to destroy the Jewish people. They failed then; and today, 2,500 years later, again Persians, led by Khamenei, are trying to destroy the Jewish people and the Jewish state. They’re going to fail again.

“We are deeply grateful for the U.S. support. We’re deeply grateful for the unbelievable and unmatchable support for our security and our right to defend ourselves and everything that you do on behalf of Israel and for the State of Israel in so many forms. So, it is a distinct pleasure to welcome you and Susan to our home at any time, but especially today.

‘This is a different time’

“Now, let me add another word about that. We had a moving visit today to the Wall. I can’t resist repeating this, but I’m going to. I said to the Secretary that the last time a Pompeo visited Jerusalem, it didn’t end that well. But this is a different time. Roman Jerusalem clashed over values, with a great tragedy for the Jewish people. But the new Rome, the United States, views itself as a new Jerusalem. We visited the original City on the Hill. We visited the hill.

“There is no greater friendship than the one between Israel and the United States, and no one represents it better than Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. You and Ambassador Friedman and your delegation are exceptional champions of our alliance.

“I’ve called you so many times, on so many things that this evening I just want to say one word—two actually: thank you. Thank you, Mike Pompeo. Thank you, President Trump. And thank you, America. To the people of Israel, I say:

“We have a Purim miracle here. President Trump has made history. He recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, at a time when Iran is trying to use the Golan Heights as a platform to destroy Israel.

We are marking the miracle of Purim – 2,500 years ago the Jewish people defeated those who tried to destroy it, other Persians, and today just as they failed then, they will fail this time as well thanks, inter alia, to the strong support of the US and its President. We have had no greater friend in our history.”

Golan HeightsPompeoPurimUS-Israel relationsWestern Wall