Read Donald Trump's Speech to AIPAC
By Sarah Begley
published: March 21, 2016 6:56 PM EDT
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, his party’s front runner for the nomination, addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Monday, discussing relations between the U.S. and Israel. A complete transcript of his remarks follows.
TRUMP: Good evening. Thank you very much.
I speak to you today as a lifelong supporter and true friend of Israel. (CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
I am a newcomer to politics, but not to backing the Jewish state.
(APPLAUSE)
In 2001, weeks after the attacks on New York City and on Washington and, frankly, the attacks on all of us, attacks that perpetrated and they were perpetrated by the Islamic fundamentalists, Mayor Rudy Giuliani visited Israel to show solidarity with terror victims.
I sent my plane because I backed the mission for Israel 100 percent.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
In spring of 2004 at the height of the violence in the Gaza Strip, I was the grand marshal of the 40th Salute to Israel Parade, the largest-single gathering in support of the Jewish state.
(APPLAUSE)
It was a very dangerous time for Israel and frankly for anyone supporting Israel. Many people turned down this honor. I did not. I took the risk and I’m glad I did.
My number-one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
Thank you. Thank you.
When I’m president, believe me, I will veto any attempt by the U.N. to impose its will on the Jewish state. It will be vetoed 100 percent.
(APPLAUSE)
You see, I know about deal-making. That’s what I do. I wrote “The Art of the Deal.”
(LAUGHTER)
One of the best-selling, all-time — and I mean, seriously, I’m saying one of because I’ll be criticized when I say “the” so I’m going to be very diplomatic — one of…
(LAUGHTER)
I’ll be criticized. I think it is number one, but why take a chance? (LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
One of the all-time best-selling books about deals and deal- making. To make a great deal, you need two willing participants. We know Israel is willing to deal. Israel has been trying.
(APPLAUSE)
That’s right. Israel has been trying to sit down at the negotiating table without preconditions for years. You had Camp David in 2000 where Prime Minister Barak made an incredible offer, maybe even too generous; Arafat rejected it.
In 2008, Prime Minister Olmert made an equally generous offer. The Palestinian Authority rejected it also.
Then John Kerry tried to come up with a framework and Abbas didn’t even respond, not even to the secretary of state of the United States of America. They didn’t even respond.
When I become president, the days of treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
Thank you.
And when I say something, I mean it, I mean it.
I will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately. I have known him for many years and we’ll be able to work closely together to help bring stability and peace to Israel and to the entire region.
Meanwhile, every single day you have rampant incitement and children being taught to hate Israel and to hate the Jews. It has to stop.
(APPLAUSE)
In Palestinian textbooks and mosques, you’ve got a culture of hatred that has been fomenting there for years. And if we want to achieve peace, they’ve got to go out and they’ve got to start this educational process. They have to end education of hatred. They have to end it and now.
(APPLAUSE)
There is no moral equivalency. Israel does not name public squares after terrorists. Israel does not pay its children to stab random Palestinians.
You see, what President Obama gets wrong about deal-making is that he constantly applies pressure to our friends and rewards our enemies.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
But when the United States stands with Israel, the chances of peace really rise and rises exponentially. That’s what will happen when Donald Trump is president of the United States.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE) We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
And we will send a clear signal that there is no daylight between America and our most reliable ally, the state of Israel.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
The Palestinians must come to the table knowing that the bond between the United States and Israel is absolutely, totally unbreakable.
(APPLAUSE)
I love the people in this room. I love Israel. I love Israel. I’ve been with Israel so long in terms of I’ve received some of my greatest honors from Israel, my father before me, incredible. My daughter, Ivanka, is about to have a beautiful Jewish baby.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
In fact, it could be happening right now, which would be very nice as far as I’m concerned.
(LAUGHTER)
So I want to thank you very much. This has been a truly great honor. Thank you, everybody. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
(CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
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