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Mike Pence To Host Jewish Leaders For Israel Independence Day

Vice President Mike Pence at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas, February 24, 2017 Image by Nathan Guttman

By Nathan Guttman May 1, 2017

The month of May is proving to be busy for the Trump White House’s Jewish community outreach operation.

Last week, President Trump proclaimed the month of May as Jewish Heritage Month. And on Tuesday, in recognition of Israel’s 69th Independence Day, Vice President Mike Pence will host Jewish leaders for a reception at the White House’s Old Executive Building. Later on Tuesday, the administration is expected to dispatch National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster to speak at the Israeli embassy’s annual Independence Day reception.

Pence has been the administration’s go-to official for addressing the Jewish community. Since taking office he spoke at the Republican Jewish Council’s conference in Las Vegas, gave a major address at the AIPAC policy conference in Washington, and made an impromptu visit to the vandalized Missouri Jewish cemetery, during which Pence rolled up his sleeves and helped the clean-up efforts.

And while relations with the Jewish community will focus on the ceremonial side this week, President Trump’s diplomatic efforts will center on the Palestinian side, as he hosts Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on Wednesday.

Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com or on Twitter @nathanguttman

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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