Israeli President Rivlin Praises US VP Pence for Aiding in Cleanup Effort at Desecrated St. Louis Jewish Cemetery as ‘Stand Against Antisemitism’
by Algemeiner Staff
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin thanked US Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday, a day after Pence stopped at a recently vandalized Jewish cemetery in Missouri and lent a helping hand in the cleanup effort.
“We appreciate @VP Pence’s visit to the desecrated cemetery in St. Louis,” Rivlin tweeted. “We stand together against antisemitism and this crime of hate.”
We appreciate @VP Pence’s visit to the desecrated cemetery in St. Louis. We stand together against antisemitism and this crime of hate. https://t.co/M6N9X8qD7L
— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) February 23, 2017
Pence — who was joined at the cemetery by Missouri’s Jewish governor, Eric Greitens — said while there, “There is no place in America for hatred or acts of prejudice or violence or antisemitism.”
The vice president later tweeted, “MO’s people are inspiring the nation w/ their compassion for the Jewish community. Thank you for showing the world what America is all about.”
MO’s people are inspiring the nation w/ their compassion for the Jewish community. Thank you for showing the world what America is all about pic.twitter.com/PWTFLGqqz0
— Vice President Pence (@VP) February 22, 2017
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said antisemitism is “horrible” and “has to stop.”
In a statement delivered to the press after a tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, Trump referred to the recent surge of antisemitism in the US — including the cemetery incident and a spate of telephone bomb threats against Jewish community centers across the country.
“The antisemitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” Trump said.
In remarks given at a synagogue in Sydney, Australia on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the US leader’s words, saying, “It’s very important that President Trump took a strong stand against antisemitism. And it’s important that we all continue to do so in the years ahead.”