Mike Pence said yesterday that the US would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem next year — earlier than had been expected.
The American vice-president, addressing the Knesset during his visit to the Holy Land, was heckled by Israeli-Palestinian politicians holding posters saying “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine”. They were ejected from the chamber.
Mr Pence said that President Trump had “made history” last month when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The international community has refused to follow suit because of the city’s religious and national significance to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Mr Pence’s speech, full of quotations from the Old Testament, was punctuated by standing ovations. He said also that the nuclear deal signed by the Obama administration with Iran was “a disaster” and added: “The United States of America will no longer certify this ill-conceived agreement.” He warned America’s European allies that if they did not take tougher measures against Iran, “President Trump, the United States, will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal immediately”.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, greeted Mr Pence warmly at his office in Jerusalem. “This is the first time that I’m standing when both leaders can say those three words: ‘Israel’s capital, Jerusalem’,” Mr Netanyahu said, adding that the alliance between the US and Israel had “never been stronger”.
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Both men praised Mr Trump repeatedly, but sources close to Mr Netanyahu admitted in private that there remained apprehension. “Bibi [Netanyahu] hates unpredictability — and let’s face it, Trump is the most unpredictable president ever,” a former senior aide said. “He is also worried about some of those who have Trump’s confidence, such as Ronald Lauder. You can never really work out who is influencing Trump.”
Mr Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, was a friend to both Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu but has fallen out with the Israeli leader.
The Israeli government has also been frustrated by the Trump administration’s apparent lack of a clear policy on Syria, where Iran and Russia are gaining influence on Israel’s northern border.