Reporting Live - VP Mike Pence visit
This blog will always reflect the honest opinion of the author. The political position of "The Shunam Shindig" is to research multiple perspectives and be open-minded, yet skeptic. Our mission is to demonstrate an endless curiosity in pursuit of knowledge.
Hi! I will be reporting live from Israel on VP Mike Pence's visit. Tomorrow I hope to greet him in the airport, or at least to witness and document the crowd, the planning and the delegation that will greet him. The Prime Minister is not in the country, so the US delegation will be met by the Minister of Tourism. On Monday there will be a special program and presentation in the Knesset. I am grateful that just this past week I took a tour of the Knesset with a friend who was visiting from abroad. Hopefully knowing the protocol and the layout of the building, somewhat, will help me get a front row seat and accurately report the events.
VP Pence arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at about 7:30. I was unable to witness the event directly as access was restricted to official delegation representatives and media personnel. The trains were slightly delayed, but other than that the airport ran smoothly and there did not appear to be delays or overcrowding for other flights or passengers.
I arrived at the kneset by 10 am. On a typical day in the kneset I can observe a session or hearing from the visitors gallery, but on this day I require an invitation. This was different than the information I had received during my tour of the kneset a week ago. I wish I knew of an organization, website or chat groups for independent journalists to find shortcuts for all this legwork. For now I will reach out to the US embassy and see what access I can get as a US citizen, if not I will report from the outside as close as possible. Pence is due to arrive at approximately 2:00 pm.
Several notes about the kneset. Tours are available on Sunday and Thursday, because on that day there are no votes, sessions or hearings. Instead the Knesset members engage in citizen engagement. Officially there is great access and transparency as citizens are invited to observe hearings and sessions as well as access Knesset activities live on their website. This is in line with Israel's goal of being a democratic country and holding transparency paramount to that endeavor.
Side note: kneset members salary is 4k shekel a Month, plus the government supplies them with a car, if they choose.
The link to apply for press access in Israel.
http://gpoeng.gov.il/gpo-services/gpo-card/
Groups attending/ arriving:
American Yeshiva Students
Soldiers from a unit in yellow aviv
The President of Republicans Overseas
To summarize the event from my perspective:
I did see the Pence motorcade, some journalits, activists, and a few people who work for Knesset members as consultants, and even American citizens who were protesting against deporting illegal immigrants called dreamers. (This took place later that evening in front of his hotel, The King David Hotel.)
It was overall a great day, but I did not see Pence, and that was disappointing.
There were reportedly 800 people inside, but even that amount allowed for a very limited viewership. For example, of the 8 members of Republicans overseas, only 3 got a seat.
Ahead of the motorcade I witnessed a demonstration in support of Mike Pence thanking him for his support pf Israel. Several news channels had received tips that there would be huge protests and counter-protests and stages their camera to be ready to report from in front of the Knesset while their other camera was based inside sending a live feed. A reporter from channel 2 news said oftentimes protests turn out that way, that is, much less turnout than anticipated. In a recent protest in Tel Aviv following Trump's Jerusalem declaration there was supposed to be 2k protesters, about 10 people showed up, mostly not even Palestinians or Palestinian activists, just anarchists and communists who were protesting capitalism and the patriarchy. In this event only one anti-Trump protester showed up, as far as I could see. She wore a pink hat and a black t-shirt that said: "Nevertheless, she persisted." However, she was uninterested in explaining or stating her grievances or disagreements with me. "You would need a few days to listen and hear all the complaints I have about how our country is going. It would use up all your battery." - Never mind I offered to put my camera away and take her ideas off the record just to broaden my perspective. The Yeshiva students who came to witness the lights and sirens or the motorcade were much more forthcoming, although they declined an on camera interview. In addition to Israeli Yeshiva students, some litvack British kids had come to see the event, and even not being US citizens they did support the overall agenda of Trump. The chassidich/American students only specificity was that they agreed with the Trump policy on immigration. Any workers in the Knesset said that among their colleagues there is broad support of Trump. He is a bit of a carnival character, unique and quirky, but they are very appreciative and enthusiastic of his support of Israel.
The pro-Pence group were lively and excited, more than making up for their small number. They gave informal, yet heartfelt speeches, and ended with a rendition of Hatikvah, the Israeli National Anthem. The leader of the organizing group, My Israel, was generous with her time, and as respectful of my interest, a simple blogger, as she was when responding to a network reporter.
Check out the link to their website, their Facebook page and their video of Chevron.
https://www.facebook.com/MyIsrael/?rc=p
http://www.myisrael.org.il/
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"The atmosphere was celebratory." This was the impressions of an activist, Mr. Goldberg, who holds dual citizenship and has lived in both Israel and California. This speech was not seen as just another state visit, rather it was a joyful occasion and unique moment in history. Mike Pence is the first VP to speak in the Knesset in this way, and it was the first official visit to Israel of a member of the Trump administration since the declaration of Jerusalem to be recognized as the capitol of Israel. "Mike Pence is even more of a Zionist than Herzl was." Due to his faith in the bible and his evangelical roots.) Unfortunately the Palestinian Knesset Members did not share this attitude and waited until Pence was standing at the podium to hold signs and protest loudly until they were forcibly removed by security. VP Pence took this in stride and good humor as he quipped: "It is great to be in a vibrant democracy where people can speak their mind."
First the speaker of the Knesset spoke: Reuven Rivlin, then Bibi Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, then the leader of the opposition, Issac Herzog, who serve also as head of the Labor Party. In his speech he reaffirmed his belief in the need for a two state solution.
When Mike Pence spoke, he made news and headlines, as he announced for the first time that the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem would be completed by the end of the year. He also spoke of the hope and belief in the ability for people and situations to change. Citing surprising alliances that now bask in the blessings of peace (cue his recent visits to Egypt and Jordan), Pence reiterated his commitment and belief in the possibility for peace between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people and across the Middle East.
Please check out my videos from the event!
This clip includes an interview with the founder and head of My Israel, a pro-Zionist organization based on the internet. The video starts as the Pence motorcade ended; the demonstration closed with a hearty rendition if the Israeli National Anthem.
This is a short clip, video of an interview of one of the demonstrators in support of Trump.
Channel 24 news, Pence at the Knesset. This is a French reporter for Channel 24 news. The video is a bit choppy.
Approximately 20 people gathered to demonstrate gratitude and celebrate the Trump-Pence administration's support for Israel.
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