"A Personal Pilgrimage": Vice-President Mike Pence Visits Jerusalem's Western Wall and Holocaust Museum

John Waage, Chris Mitchell : Jan 23, 2018
CBN News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Pence, saying that despite the vice-president being disrupted by Arab lawmakers during his speech to the Knesset, "You saw people standing up again and again applauding you, applauding the principles that guide your policy, applauding the genuine friendship that emanates from your heart."

(Israel)—[CBN News] During his second full day in Israel, US Vice President Mike Pence visited two of Jerusalem's most revered sites: The Holocaust museum and the Western Wall. He's also receiving high praise for his Knesset speech on Monday that warmed the hearts of many Israelis. (Photo: Vice President Mike Pence at the Western Wall/Twitter/via CBN News)

The first official stop Tuesday for the vice president was the Jerusalem residence of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, where he repeated the White House plan to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem by the end of next year. He also put Europe on notice that changes are coming to the nuclear deal with Iran.

"We are sending a signal to our European allies that the time has come for changes in the Iran nuclear deal that will ensure that the sunset provisions in the deal are completely eliminated and that punitive sanctions will be available for many years to come to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And you have our commitment to work closely with our allies around the world to achieve that," he said.

On all his stops, Pence enhanced his reputation as a friend of Israel.

He gracefully handled Monday's protest by Arab lawmakers in the Knesset and his speech drew praise both in the media and from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"You saw people standing up again and again applauding you, applauding the principles that guide your policy, applauding the genuine friendship that emanates from your heart," Netanyahu told him.

Observers here note that the Pence visit seems to be on a personal pilgrimage as much as a political tour. That was most evident at Yad VaShem, the Israeli Holocaust museum.

The vice president is concluding his trip with a visit—with prayers—at the Western Wall, adjacent to the Temple Mount, perhaps a fitting end to a trip designed as a search for the threads of peace in the Holy City and the Middle East.