| Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani tells Israel: Americans love you |
America supports Israel since "[we are all] in exactly the same boat" in fight against terror, says former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at Israeli American Council national conference • Giuliani blasts Iran deal, says he hopes it will be reversed.
Yoni Hersch and Israel Hayom Staff
| Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani at the Israeli American Council national conference | Photo credit: Peter Halmagyi 
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Speaking at the annual Israeli American Council's national conference in Washington on Saturday night, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stressed that "there has never been a time" when Americans have loved and understood Israel as much as they do now.
Giuliani, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, told the audience that Israel is one of America's best friends. "No matter what's going on between our governments ... they [Americans] love Israel because they understand what you're about," he said. He explained that America supports Israel since "[we are all] in exactly the same boat" in the fight against terror.
Criticizing U.S. President Barack Obama's push for the Iran nuclear deal, the former New York mayor said, "I hope we elect a president who reverses that agreement.
"I can't speak for anyone else. I oppose the agreement because I would never put nuclear material in the hands of a proven homicidal maniac. I consider putting a nuclear weapon in the hands of a country that is dedicated to the extermination of the state of Israel as not being a friend of Israel."
Giuliani went on to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying, "The United States should reject the whole notion of a two-state solution in Israel, or maybe it should restate it: It should be a two-state solution when the Palestinian Authority demonstrates that it can be a state, and not a homeland for terrorism."
Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) also spoke up to criticize the Iran deal, saying that the "good news" about he deal was that it was not made into a treaty and can be struck down by future administrations.Speaking on a panel at the IAC conference, former Middle East affairs adviser to President Obama, Dennis Ross, stated that while hatred for Israel has not disappeared from the Arab world, more "pragmatic" opinions are surfacing and may present new opportunities.
Construction Minister Yoav Gallant and Science, Space and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis represented the Israeli government at the conference's opening. Gallant expressed concern over the spread of Iranian-Shiite hegemony in Iran following the collapse of the cease-fire agreement. "Iran and Hezbollah are the problem, not the solution," he said.At the same time, Gallant was optimistic about Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, stating that "within a year or two," the border, including terror tunnels, would be completely sealed off.
Akunis, for his part, addressed Israel's status in the international arena, stressing that the Jewish state is not isolated, as some claim. "The reality proves the opposite," he said. He added that "there is no isolation and the boycott initiatives and their supporters are doomed to failure."
IAC Chairman Adam Milstein expressed pride over the organization's growth, saying that the conference "marks just how far Israeli-Americans, now a pillar of American Judaism, have come."
Milstein also announced that California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law an anti-BDS bill, which passed near-unanimously, prohibiting companies that do business with the state from engaging in efforts to boycott Israel.
Giuliani, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, told the audience that Israel is one of America's best friends. "No matter what's going on between our governments ... they [Americans] love Israel because they understand what you're about," he said. He explained that America supports Israel since "[we are all] in exactly the same boat" in the fight against terror.
Criticizing U.S. President Barack Obama's push for the Iran nuclear deal, the former New York mayor said, "I hope we elect a president who reverses that agreement.
"I can't speak for anyone else. I oppose the agreement because I would never put nuclear material in the hands of a proven homicidal maniac. I consider putting a nuclear weapon in the hands of a country that is dedicated to the extermination of the state of Israel as not being a friend of Israel."
Giuliani went on to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying, "The United States should reject the whole notion of a two-state solution in Israel, or maybe it should restate it: It should be a two-state solution when the Palestinian Authority demonstrates that it can be a state, and not a homeland for terrorism."
Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) also spoke up to criticize the Iran deal, saying that the "good news" about he deal was that it was not made into a treaty and can be struck down by future administrations.Speaking on a panel at the IAC conference, former Middle East affairs adviser to President Obama, Dennis Ross, stated that while hatred for Israel has not disappeared from the Arab world, more "pragmatic" opinions are surfacing and may present new opportunities.
Construction Minister Yoav Gallant and Science, Space and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis represented the Israeli government at the conference's opening. Gallant expressed concern over the spread of Iranian-Shiite hegemony in Iran following the collapse of the cease-fire agreement. "Iran and Hezbollah are the problem, not the solution," he said.At the same time, Gallant was optimistic about Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, stating that "within a year or two," the border, including terror tunnels, would be completely sealed off.
Akunis, for his part, addressed Israel's status in the international arena, stressing that the Jewish state is not isolated, as some claim. "The reality proves the opposite," he said. He added that "there is no isolation and the boycott initiatives and their supporters are doomed to failure."
IAC Chairman Adam Milstein expressed pride over the organization's growth, saying that the conference "marks just how far Israeli-Americans, now a pillar of American Judaism, have come."
Milstein also announced that California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law an anti-BDS bill, which passed near-unanimously, prohibiting companies that do business with the state from engaging in efforts to boycott Israel.
