U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and delivers statements to the press at Israeli Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, August 24, 2020.
Transcript
Secretary Pompeo a wonderful friend, Mike. It’s good to see you back in Jerusalem. I counted, and I think we’ve This is our 12th meeting since you became secretary of state. This does include dozens and dozens of telephone calls we have met here in Jerusalem and in Washington and in so many places in between. But every meeting was characterized by that same powerful alliance of values that has informed your activity and the ability of the trump administration that cement even further the historic American Israeli lines. I want to thank you. I want to thank the president for all that you’ve done for Israel’s security and everything that you’re doing, too. Solidify this for friendship. There are two things two great things that have happened since our last meeting. The first is that you have stood up to Iran’s aggression and trigger the snapback sanctions. I want to commend you for doing so. I think people should realize that the Iran deal failed, just as we predicted. Not only that it’s not mollify Iran’s aggression, it fueled it and increased it, and we’ve seen Iran since the JCP away was concluded. Emerging from its case, it’s Cajun devouring one country after another, targeting countries with rockets, with terrorism, with pillage and plunder and murder murder all over the Middle East on even beyond the Middle East, including into your hemisphere. And in fact, to see the Security Council not only not joined the American snapback sanctions but resisted or stand on the sidelines and allow this embargo on Iranian arms shipments shipments to Iran to agree to it, I think, is outrageous. That means that this regime will get tanks and aircraft and missiles and anti aircraft defenses to continue its its campaign of aggression throughout the region. In the world, it’s just absurd. So I want to congratulate you for standing there. We stand with you. I have to say that quite a few years ago. I understand sometimes alone in publically so rejecting JCP away and alerting the world on Iran’s aggression. That obviously changed with the inauguration of President Trump and everything that you have done since. But I think it’s important to point out that today we heard Gulf Countries, countries in the Gulf speak out as forcefully as I’m doing now, and I think that I would suggest to our friends, especially our European friends at this point that when Arabs and Israelis agree on something, it big sense to pay attention. So congratulations understand under snap back and on your overall opposition to Iran’s aggression and its quest for nuclear weapons. The second thing that has happened, uh, is equally a start, and that is the achievement of the Israeli Emirati. A peace agreement, the creation of full normalisation between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This has been brokered by President Trump with your assistance, and it is a been a boon to peace and to regional stability. I think it helds a new era where we could have others nations joined. We discussed this, and I hope we’ll have good news in the future, maybe in the near future. I think it makes sense we have to of the most advanced economies in the world, brimming with innovation is willing. The USA. It’s a natural fit on the support of the United States makes us, uh, something with international ramifications. This is the alliance of the Moderates against the Radicals against those who use violence and aggression to further their aims against those who believe that we can offer better people, a better future for people through cooperation. It’s, I think it’s spills a change in the Middle East. It’s the first time in a quarter of a century that we have a peace agreement, and I want to thank again the president and you and your administration for helping bring me about. I have to say simply that this deal did not include his real self acceptance of any arms deal, and I don’t know of any arms deal that has been agreed upon. It may be contemplated. Our position hasn’t changed. But I also learned from Secretary Pompeo heard again a very, very strong commitment that under all circumstances, the United States will ensure Israel’s qualitative edge that has been proved to be true over four decades of peace with Egypt. 2.5 decades of peace with Jordan stood by that commitment, and I know I have no doubt that it will continue to do so. So, Mike, I want to thank you for your friendship, for your support and the quest for peace and security, which were actually achievement. Thank you and welcome a man. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Parameters. Thanks for the warm welcome it is. It’s great to be back again. As you said, I’m a frequent visitor here, and each time we build on the relationship both our military relationship that gets focused on our security relationship but also our economic relationship to building out opportunities. We talked about chances for countries to work together. The whole world tries to push back against this virus that came from Wuhan, China. I’m confident there are places which are medical systems, and pharmaceutical companies will build out a good solution to keep Israelis, Americans and people all across the world safer and healthier in the weeks and months ahead. I appreciate your support. President Trump’s made clear Iran will never have a nuclear weapon and were determined to use every tool that we have to ensure that they can’t get access to high end weapons systems, air defense systems, ones that the prime minister spoke up. We think it’s in the best interest of the whole world. Many of these leaders tell me so privately, it’s time to stand up timeto publicly account for the fact that Iran is on the cusp on October 18 of having access to those weapons and the money that will come from their sale of those weapons that will be used to inflict real harm not only in the Middle East but in Europe as well. So I’m confident that we’ll achieve that in may. Welcome. Israeli and Gulf states support a for effort The people most impacted by Iran having weapons systems are all in favor of this arms embargo being extended the rest of the world. I should join us. WAY had a chance. I want to come here today in part to congratulate. The prime minister will travel to the Emirates to meet with them and congratulate them to what’s taking place here is deeply consistent with what President Trump set out to do. Created more stable, more prosperous Middle East. This is a really good step in that direction. Economic relationship between the Emirates, opportunities for innovation in science. Travel between these two places will now be open and that’s important. That’s important to create between Israel and this Arab state. This opportunity prime minister spoke to the security commitments that were made. United States has a legal requirement with respect to qualitative military edge. We will continue to honor that, but We have a 20 plus year security relationship with the United Arab Emirates as well, where we have provided them with technical assistance and military assistance. We will now continue to review that process to continue to make sure that we’re delivering them with the equipment that they need to secure and defend their own people from this same threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran as well. We are deeply committed to doing that to achieving that we’ll do it in a way that preserves our commitment to Israel as well. I’m confident that both of these objectives could be achieved on I’ve watched Watched over these last days is there but the first inklings of the benefits you were telling a story about a young person playing piano. I think we’ll see stories like this as I traveled through the rest of the strip. I’m very hopeful that we will see other Arab nations join in this. The opportunity for them to work alongside, to recognize the state of Israel and to work alongside them will not only increase Middle East ability to improve the lives in each of the for the people of their own countries, Aziz Well, uh, we talked a little bit about the challenge that the Chinese Communist Party presents to the entire world. I think the world is now seeing this. And then lastly, President Trump told me I would be remiss if I didn’t once again say thank you for all that you have done to work alongside us to keep this security to keep this relationship built. We’ve done our part in moving the embassy here by recognizing the reality of what the Golan Heights is by acknowledging, uh that the settlements are not per se unlawful. These are the kinds of things that nations could do together toe work to increase the security and stability for our two countries and for the region as well. It has been a great relationship. It will continue to be a great relationship. And it was an honor for me to be with you here again today, Mr. Prime Minister. Thank you. You came on a day when the mask on Theodore Hertzel statue has been It’s right behind you. There has been removed. But Secretary spoke about cooperation. Covert. We just had an interesting discussion about that. The United States obviously is leading the world in the separate Israel is making its own effort. We are exploring now the possibility of combining our efforts, joining in ways to find both the vaccine and other ways to alleviate this horrible disease. And this is in any other field. We have no better friends than the United States of America. Thank you, Mr Secretary three.