British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to Republican lawmakers in Philadelphia on Thursday. Photo: Screenshot.

British Prime Minister Theresa May received resounding applause and a standing ovation from Republican lawmakers gathered at a party retreat in Philadelphia on Thursday when she issued a call to protect Israel.

“Whether it is the security of Israel in the Middle East or Estonia in the Baltic states, we must always stand up for our friends and allies in democratic countries that find themselves in tough neighborhoods too,” May said.

Earlier in her speech, May — the head of the UK’s Conservative Party — declared, “We, our two countries together, have a joint responsibility to lead. Because when others step up as we step back, it is bad for America, for Britain and the world.”

“It is in our interests — those of Britain and America together — to stand strong together to defend our values, our interests and the very ideas in which we believe,” she went on to say.

On Friday, May met with new US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC.

In December, the UK voted in favor of the anti-Israeli settlement resolution passed by the UN Security Council. However, May also criticized former US Secretary of State John Kerry for his subsequent speech in which he assailed the Jewish state’s settlement policies.

Watch May’s Philadelphia speech below (her mention of Israel is at around 18:10):