Senator Jim DeMint: “Time to Expand Abraham Accords — Strengthen US-Israel Partnership” | Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit, Israel

“Our gathering affirms America’s strong bonds of partnership with the Jewish state of Israel, and a commitment to advance our shared values and timeless principles.” — Senator Jim DeMint

Senator Jim DeMint, Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute, Washington, DC

January 9, 2023 | Washington, DC | Jerusalem — Senator Jim DeMint, chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute based in Washington, DC delivered a video message to business, media and government leaders attending the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit in Israel on December 28, 2022. The summit event in Jerusalem was co-hosted by The International Leaders Summit and The Menachem Begin Heritage Center and in partnership with The Washington Times.

Senator Jim DeMint clearly articulated the significance of strengthening America’s partnership with Israel and to advance the principled recommendation of expanding the Abraham Accords.

Video | Senator Jim DeMint

Senator Jim DeMint delivers message to leaders attending Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit in Israel

Message from Senator Jim Demint

Shalom!

It is an honor to address the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit.

From Washington, DC, America’s capital city — to Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel, I greet leaders participating in Jerusalem, and those joining virtually.

Our gathering affirms America’s strong bonds of partnership with the Jewish state of Israel, and a commitment to advance our shared values and timeless principles.

I recall how America’s founding fathers demonstrated strong support for the Jewish community including Presidents George Washington, John Adams and Abraham Lincoln.

After President George Washington was received by the congregants of the Touro Synagogue Newport, Rhode Island on August 18, 1790, America’s first president expressed these words in writing:

“May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

John Adams made the first pro-Zionist declaration by an American head of state, active or retired upon receiving a book from Mordecai Noah, a Jewish American Jewish newspaper editor, politician and diplomat. In a letter sent in to Noah in 1819, Adams wrote,

“For I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation.”

That dream and vision of Jews around the world became a reality when at midnight on May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed a new State of Israel. History recorded that on that very same date, the United States recognized the authority of the Jewish State.

In just some four months, Israel’s will be celebrating its 75th anniversary as an independent nation. We celebrate this extraordinary achievement.

The Jewish state of Israel is a beacon of freedom in the Middle East and the world, with its foundation based on the rule of law.

As we gather today, and look to the future, we are also reminded of the importance of advancing strategic initiatives that are beginning to make difference in the region.

The Abraham Accords led by the Trump Administration and with our partner Israel have brought together nations including the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan in normalizing relations with the Jewish State.

The historic Abraham Accords may be one of the most under-reported success stories of our time. According to Israel’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, “…trade between Israel and the Gulf states reached $1.4 billion in the last half year alone.”

Almost half a million Israelis visited the UAE over the past two years.

We believe that more can be done — and should be done — through the encouragement and positive engagement of American leadership and America’s allies around the world.

You can count on America’s leaders who are committed to strengthening US-Israel ties to join with you all in — “pursuing a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world.”

I close by sharing these words from President Ronald Reagan delivered at a White House meeting with Jewish leaders in 1983:

“Since the foundation of the State of Israel, the United States has stood by her and helped her to pursue security, peace, and economic growth. Our friendship is based on historic moral and strategic ties, as well as our shared dedication to democracy.”

Friends — I look forward to being in Jerusalem and meeting with you all.

May God bless Israel, and may God bless the United States of America.

Shalom!

Photographs from The Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit co-hosted by The International Leaders Summit and The Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Israel. Credit | Yossi Zamir, Jerusalem.

Joel Anand Samy, co-founder, International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit delivers opening remarks at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit co-hosted with Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem.

Natasha Srdoc, MBA, co-founder, International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit co-hosted with Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem.

Herzl Makov, president of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center delivers a keynote address at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit in Israel.

Keynote address delivered by Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem in charge of foreign relations, international economic development and tourism. She is also the co-founder and founding member of the UAE — Israel Business Council.

Oded Revivi, mayor, City of Efrat speaks on the strategic panel focusing on the rule of law.

Keynote address delivered by Dr. Paul Ruebig, member of the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee, president of SME Global and member of the European Parliament from Austria (1996–2019), European People’s Party (EPP).

Sir Ivan Lawrence, KC, delivers remarks at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit. Sir Ivan Lawrence, a prominent British Jewish leader served as member of Parliament, barrister and head of Criminal Law Group 5 Pump Court Chambers — London Chambers, delegate, board of deputies of British Jews and
trustee of the Holocaust Educational Trust. In the British Parliament, Sir Ivan Lawrence served as chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and chairman of the parliamentary group — Conservative Friends of Israel.

Steve Linde, editor-in-chief, The Jerusalem Report and former editor-in-chief, The Jerusalem Post moderates strategic session on “The Erosion of the Rule of Law in the West” and principled measures to strengthen democratic institutions.

Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff, previously Israel’s Ambassador to Germany and vice director general of Foreign Ministry of Israel at a strategic session with Joel Anand Samy, co-founder, International Leaders Summit on the early stages of initiating diplomatic efforts with the United Arab Emirates in the 1990s leading to the Abraham Accords signed in 2020.

Gol Kalev, author, “Judaism 3.0: Judaism’s Transformation to Zionism” delivers speech at Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit. He writes for The Jerusalem Post and chairs the America-Israel Friendship League Think Tank.

Joel Anand Samy, co-founder, International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit delivers opening remarks at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit co-hosted with Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem.

Gil Troy, Distinguished Scholar in North American History at McGill University
Co-Authored “Never Alone: Prison, Politics and My People” with Natan Sharansky.

Steve Linde, editor-in-chief, The Jerusalem Report and Joel Anand Samy, co-founder, International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit.

Sir Ivan Lawrence meets with guests at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit.

H.E. Ly Duc Trung, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Israel with Dr. Paul Ruebig, member of the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee, Mayor Oded Revivi, City of Efrat and Joel Anand Samy, co-founder, International Leaders Summit

Professor Moshe Koppel, member, Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University and
chairman, Kohelet Policy Forum, Jerusalem, Israel

Sir Ivan Lawrence, QC, focusing on steps required to strengthen the rule of law in the West.

Steve Linde, editor-in-chief, The Jerusalem Report and Mayor Oded, Revivi, City of Efrat, Israel.

From the left — Herzl Makov, president of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, Laura Kam, president, Kam Global Strategies, Natasha Srdoc, MBA, co-founder of International Leaders Summit and Jerusalem Leaders Summit ad Sir Ivan Lawrence.

Dr. Paul Ruebig, member of the European Union’s Economic and Social Committee, Natasha Srdoc, co-founder, International Leaders Summit and Professor Moshe Koppel, member, Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University and chairman, Kohelet Policy Forum, Jerusalem, Israel.

Speaking — Professor Moshe Koppel, member, Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University and
chairman, Kohelet Policy Forum, Jerusalem, Israel with Mayor Oded Revivi, City of Efrat seated on the left and Sir Ivan Lawrence on the right side.

Sir Ivan Lawrence, QC and Natasha Srdoc, MBA, co-founder, International Leaders Summit.

Natasha Srdoc, MBA, co-founder, International Leaders Summit (left) with Basia Monka from The Jerusalem Post.

Julie Stahl, CBN News Middle East Correspondent (left) and Natasha Srdoc, MBA, co-founder, International Leaders Summit

Select group of speakers at the Fourth Jerusalem Leaders Summit.