US-Israel Relationship

At CUFI, we believe a strong, secure, and sovereign Israel is key to a strong and secure United States. Israel needs America, and America needs Israel. We are two nations with shared values, defending the same principles, and thus engaged in the same fight against common enemies. On May 14, 1948, the US was the first country to recognize the nascent State of Israel just eleven minutes after Israel declared its independence. Since then, the US has been a friend to Israel, our most critical ally in the Middle East. One of CUFI’s core concerns is to shape and strengthen the US-Israel relationship to the safety and security of both our nations.

US-Israel Relationship

PM Netanyahu’s Remarks at the Start of the Cabinet Meeting

PM Netanyahu at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting made the following remarks:

“Today we will mark two events that – in the perspective of time – will be seen as historic. The first is the fact that a few days ago Air India flew directly to Israel, on a straight line from India to Tel Aviv. The significance is clear to all. This is…

US-Israel Relationship

Top US Diplomat Haley Slams UN Human Rights Council as ‘Foolish and Unworthy of Its Name’ After Passage of More Anti-Israel Resolutions

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley slammed the UN Human Rights Council on Friday after it approved a slew of anti-Israel decisions within the framework of its infamous “Agenda Item 7.”

“Today, the UN Human Rights Council adopted five resolutions condemning Israel,” Haley said in a statement. “At the same time, the council adopted only one…

US-Israel Relationship

US slams Abbas over ‘outrageous’ insult of its Israel envoy

US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the peace process slammed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday for having called the American ambassador to Israel a “son of a dog,” urging him to abandon his “hateful rhetoric” and instead focus on improving the lives of his people.

At the same time, Jason Greenblatt said the White House…

US-Israel Relationship

TV report: Netanyahu tells cabinet Trump is likely to exit Iran deal by May

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his cabinet this week that US President Donald Trump will likely walk away from the Iran nuclear deal this May, Channel 10 news reported Thursday.

Netanyahu reportedly made the remarks during the cabinet meeting on Sunday when he relayed the details of his meeting with Trump in Washington a week…

US-Israel Relationship

Americans’ support for Israel among highest ever recorded

In a study headlined “Americans remain staunchly in Israel’s corner,” the Gallup company published the findings of a major national poll that found backing for Israel among Americans remains extremely high, with some measures of support matching the highest previously recorded figures.

“Americans’ stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is as…

US-Israel Relationship

Israeli specialists provide post-trauma training to Parkland community members

As the community in Parkland, Fla., works to recover from the tragic Valentine’s Day shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead, a team sent by the Israeli government has been helping out.

The Israel Trauma Coalition arrived in Broward County this week and has been holding training sessions for community members,…

US-Israel Relationship

US envoy praises Honduras for supporting Jerusalem embassy move

EGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AFP) — The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, on Tuesday heaped fulsome praise on Honduras for being one of a few countries that backed the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

In a visit to Tegucigalpa to see newly re-elected Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, Haley stressed that US President…

US-Israel Relationship

Netanyahu: U.S. Embassy move will have long-term ramifications

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded US President Donald Trump as a “great friend” at Sunday’s cabinet meeting and said Washington’s decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem will have significant, long-term ramifications.

“This is a great moment for the citizens of Israel and this is a historic moment for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said…

US-Israel Relationship

US ‘to move embassy to Jerusalem on May 14’ — day of Independence Declaration

The US is planning to officially move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem on May 14, 2018 — the 70th anniversary of Israel’s declaration of independence, as well as Washington’s recognition of the Jewish state — Channel 10 and Hadashot news reported Friday.

According to Hadashot the embassy will officially announce the plans later in the day. The…

US-Israel Relationship

IDF, US troops get ready for drill to simulate massive missile attack on Israel

The Israeli military on Thursday began its final preparations for a major air defense exercise with the United States, which is set to kick off at the beginning of next month, the army said.

While the Juniper Cobra exercise, which was first held in 2001, is scheduled every two years, it comes at a time of growing tension between Israel and Iran…

US-Israel Relationship

Haley to Abbas: US wants a peace deal but will not ‘chase after you’

WASHINGTON — US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Tuesday said Washington would not “chase” the Palestinians to the negotiating table with Israel, following Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s speech to the UN Security Council.

Speaking in front of US President Donald Trump’s top two Middle East peace negotiators — Jared…

US-Israel Relationship

Members of Congress Urge ‘Immediate’ Passage by Senate of Legislation Targeting PA Terrorism Payments

As the US Senate prepares for an imminent vote on the Taylor Force Act targeting Palestinian Authority payments to terrorists, 63 members of Congress have written to House Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer urging its “immediate consideration.”

“March 8, 2018, will mark two years since Taylor Force was…

US-Israel Relationship

New York Sen. Charles Schumer Predicts ‘Unanimous’ Support in US Congress For Taylor Force Act Targeting PA Terror Payments

US Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) has told an audience in New York that he expects new legislation targeting Palestinian Authority payments to terrorists to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“The House could pass this bill by unanimous consent,” Schumer said at a Sunday breakfast meeting of the Jewish Community Relations…

US-Israel Relationship

Thanks to Trump and Pence, America’s relationship with Israel is stronger than ever

The White House last month released a transcript of remarks made by Vice President Mike Pence. According to the release, he spoke in “The Knesset, Jerusalem, Israel.”

This may not seem groundbreaking at first glance, but the simple act of defining Jerusalem as a part of Israel is evidence of a long-awaited and much-needed shift in how America…

US-Israel Relationship

US troops arrive for drill simulating massive missile attack on Israel

US forces are deploying in Israel ahead of a large-scale joint Israel-US military exercise, due to start next week, which will simulate a major conflict in which Israel is attacked with thousands of missiles.

The biennial Juniper Cobra military exercise, which is being held for the ninth time, will take place amid an escalation of rhetoric…

US-Israel Relationship

Nikki Haley skewers Mahmoud Abbas at UN Security Council meeting

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley launched a broadside Thursday at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing him of indulging in “outrageous” conspiracy theories about Israel and lacking what is needed to secure peace in the region.
Haley made the remarks at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the Middle East. She…

US-Israel Relationship

At Sit-Down With Israeli PM Netanyahu, Trump Threatens to Pull US Aid to Palestinians if They Don’t Pursue Peace

US.President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to withhold aid to the Palestinians if they did not pursue peace with Israel, saying they had snubbed the United States by not meeting Vice President Mike Pence during a recent visit to the Middle East.

Trump — speaking after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World…

US-Israel Relationship

Pence visits Western Wall, says it’s a ‘great honor’

US Vice President Mike Pence visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Tuesday, wrapping up a two-day visit to Israel, amid an escalating dispute with the Palestinians over the status of the city.

Pence, whose visit to the Western Wall lasted all of 10 minutes, read a short prayer from the Book of Psalms, placed a note in the Wall, and lay his…