Mending Fences

When President Trump abruptly pulled US forces out of Syria, leaving Kurds vulnerable to a Turkish attack, many criticized and condemned him.

Secretary of State Pompeo is currently visiting Israel during the festival of Sukkot, which commemorates the Wilderness wanderings of the Jewish People, and seeks to bring some reassurance to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Prime Minister and Defense Minister Netanyahu welcomed him both to Jerusalem and to his home during this festival. While his timing coincides with Sukkot, he primarily has come to update the prime minister on the latest cease fire with Turkey.

Extending his welcome to the Secretary, the Prime Minister thanked him for “the stability and ability” of maintaining the US-Israel alliance. “We talked about making it even stronger, and I want to thank you for your consistent support. Thank you, and welcome once again to Jerusalem.”

Then he welcomed the Secretary to join him and other dignitaries, including the Director of Mossad, Yossi Cohen, and US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman in the sukkah at the prime minister’s official residence. He concluded his remarks with, “Mike, since you’re visiting on the holiday of Sukkot, we sit in a sukkah and we always remember what it was like when we didn’t have a permanent home. So let me show you a sukkah and then we will let you continue on your way.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that the Middle East is a “sea of troubles and turbulence,” and the secretary’s visit seeks to assure the prime minister that the US remains steadfastly behind Israel, wanting to help quell some of that turbulence in the region.

(Source: Israel Unwired)