Dermer says ‘no daylight’ between Israel, US for first time in years

In his address to AIPAC, Israel’s ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer is praising US Vice President Mike Pence, saying Israel has “no better friend.”

He praises Paul Ryan, Robert Menendez, and Washington’s UN envoy Nikki Haley, who “finally brought some moral clarity to the United Nations.”

Israel believes “we can finally get serious” and “crack the UN’s anti-Israel majorities once and for all” with Haley, he says.

“I know that today bringing people together is harder than ever,” he tells the pro-Israel activists, referring to partisan tensions in the United States, making Israel’s “gratitude greater than ever.”

And he is lauding the Israel-US relationship under Trump.

“For the first time in many years, perhaps even many decades, there is no daylight between our two governments. Both our governments recognize that foremost among our challenges remains Iran,” says Dermer.

He says there was a “meeting of the minds” between Netanyahu and Trump during the Israeli prime minister’s meeting to Washington last month.

On peace in the Middle East, Dermer says “there is a real prospect” for “reconciliation in the region.”

He also hails US military assistance and shared values.