SHAFAQNA – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked the government of US President Donald Trump for its support of the Tel Aviv regime.
Netanyahu also thanked the new US administration over its choice for Washington’s new ambassador to Israel, while addressing the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) convention via video link on Monday.
Since taking office in January, Trump’s increased support for Israel has emboldened the Tel Aviv regime to intensify anti-Palestinian activities such as settlement expansions. Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama often clashed with the Israeli premier.
Last week, the US Senate confirmed Trump’s controversial pick of David Friedman to be America’s ambassador to Israel.
“Israel is committed to working with President Trump to advance peace with the Palestinians and with all our neighbors,” Netanyahu said, noting that Palestine must recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Netanyahu also thanked Trump over a recent US budget request that “leaves military aid to Israel fully funded.”
While addressing AIPAC on Sunday, US Vice President Mike Pence said that Trump is “serious” about moving the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem al-Quds.
During his campaign, Trump promised Netanyahu that he would recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s undivided capital.
In early December, then US President Obama renewed a presidential waiver ordering the US embassy in Israel to remain in Tel Aviv, despite facing pressure by Congress and Israel.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has warned the US against the relocation of the embassy, saying that doing so would fuel extremism in the region and kill all chances for a solution to the conflict.