On first glance, it may seem as though U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Jerusalem is not much more than ceremonial, devoid of any practical significance. Pence is not counted among U.S. President Donald Trump's busy worker bees in the Middle East, and there are currently no active peace efforts requiring revitalization or an infusion of new, groundbreaking variables.
But this impression is misleading. Gestures, symbols and expressions of solidarity and public, sweeping support for Israel are important to maintaining the special relationship between Washington and Jerusalem, especially when they are anchored in the moral, ideological and historical foundation of the alliance.
Indeed, when these ideas were vocalized loud and clear at the Knesset podium, they communicated an unequivocal message on the fortitude of the partnership, not to mention the central place of Israel in the ethos, heritage and reality of the American experience.
While the voice at the podium belonged to the vice president, keep in mind that he is in practice a loyal envoy and assistant to the 45th U.S. president. He expressed, in a refined and pure manner, the attitude of the man at the top of the pyramid and the terms of affection that currently characterize the American-Israeli axis.
Another example of Pence's adherence to the White House's firm stance was when, during the current visit to the region, he openly and directly presented the U.S.'s policy on Jerusalem and the resumption of peace talks to Jordan's King Abdullah. He didn't try to placate his Jordanian host or sugarcoat the American stance with "politically correct" terms, despite the deep opposition in the Arab world to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital last month.
In this regard, the nature of Pence's visit could not possibly be more different than former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit in March 2010, which was held under an entirely different atmosphere. While Pence brings with him a message of brave partnership now, Biden then reflected a climate of tension and friction between the previous administration and Israel. Biden arrived in Jerusalem at the height of a settlement construction freeze in Judea and Samaria, implemented everywhere but in east Jerusalem. But that didn't prevent American pressure on the Netanyahu-led coalition to stop the building plans in the Jewish neighborhoods of the eastern part of the city. Biden's visit was marred by this crisis, which only intensified during the visit with the publication of construction plans in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem, and peaked during Netanyahu's visit to Washington a week later.
The previous administration's whip of threats and admonishments has now given way to a conciliatory, supportive attitude that also reflects the dangers and challenges currently facing the moderate Sunni world. Even though current American policy unequivocally supports kickstarting the peace process, America does not see a peace agreement as the ultimate goal, like it did during the Obama era, nor is that considered a necessary precondition to strengthening America's position in the region. Indeed, the impression the Pence visit leaves is of unconditional and true commitment.
