"Peace comes through strength," former US Vice President Mike Pence says, quoting Ronald Reagan. In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, as he makes his way to tour the northern border, he adds, "I think the United States of America needs to make it clear that if the attacks by the Houthis continue in the Red Sea that we understand who their patrons are. When Iran attacked a US warship in the 1980s Ronald Reagan ordered and sank half of the Iranian Navy. And I think whether it's Iranian naval vessels or whether it's oil infrastructure, I would hope that the current administration is making clear to Iran that Iran will pay a price if Houthis or any other entities that they support continue to bring attacks against American service members or our interests in the region."

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Pence is the most prominent Republican figure from the US to arrive in Israel since the war began. Donald Trump and the other contenders for the party's presidential nomination are busy with the primaries. Pence, who was Trump's vice president, was also a presidential hopeful but dropped out from the GOP primary race when he realized his chances were slim. Since Thursday he has been here. First, he toured the south and met residents in Kfar Aza and police officers in Sderot. On Friday he was briefed by GOC Northern Command Uri Gordin and had lunch in a soldier's tent in Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar.

"I'm going to continue to be a very strong voice for Israel's demand that either Hezbollah moves back from the border or Israel makes it clear that they're prepared to confront them. No one wants to see a wider conflict.  I have long embraced the principle of the 40th president of the United States [Reagan] that peace comes through strength, and the presence of two aircraft battle groups in the region, a clear message to Hezbollah and more importantly, to Tehran, that, should there be any effort to widen this conflict against Israel that the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with our most cherished ally is the only message that should be conveyed right now."

Q: After all you've seen in the south, what do you think should and can be done with Gaza the day after the war? The government is talking about a renewed Palestinian Authority. Some have suggested an international force.

"I think all discussion of the aftermath has to happen after the defeat, and ultimately, the ending of the threat of Hamas. And with regard to governance afterward, I must tell you, I'm still waiting for the Palestinian Authority to condemn what happened on October 7. You know, I have met with leaders of the PA in different capacities when I was vice president, when I was a member of Congress. But this is a moment where the Palestinian Authority ought to be stepping up and making it clear that they condemn in no uncertain terms, the brutality, the aftermath of which I witnessed yesterday. 

Q: There is very high appreciation in Israel for the tremendous support of the Biden administration. At the same time, the demand to bring in a lot of fuel and humanitarian supplies to Gaza helps Hamas and prolongs the war.

"I  would say first, that I am concerned that while the material support from the United States has been consistent, the Biden administration has continued to send signals pressuring Israel to move to a different phase of the war, giving a platform for calls for a ceasefire. And I hope my presence here is evidence that whatever signals are coming out of the State Department, the Biden administration, the American people stand with Israel. And the overwhelming majority of the American people understand that this horrific terrorist attack, the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, must be met with the complete destruction of Hamas, and its capacity to to ever threaten the people of Israel. 

"People need to be reminded there was a ceasefire on October 6. And then 3000 terrorists, as I learned in great detail in a briefing and Sderot yesterday, surged through that border, with the purpose of killing Jews and but for the courage of police officers, many of whom I had the privilege of meeting yesterday, would have marched to Tel Aviv they would have marched to Jerusalem. Their intention, as I learned yesterday, was to launch an assault on all of Israel claiming lives across all of Israel."

Q: And regarding the pressure for humanitarian assistance? 

"I regret the loss of any innocent human life. And, you know, some of the heartbreaking scenes of innocent civilians in Gaza have touched my heart. But I see them as victims of Hamas. I see Israel making every effort in the early days of the war to make it possible for civilians to vacate the northern areas of Gaza. And I also see scenes where humanitarian aid is coming across the border, and immediately being captured by Hamas soldiers at gunpoint. So I have a heart for people who are suffering on both sides of the border. And, and I want to, I want to continue to be a voice for that. But I think all discussion of the aftermath, actually happen after the defeat, and ultimately, the ending the threat of Hamas"

Pence was expected to end his visit on Sunday and return to the US.

"I've followed developments very closely. But there's no substitute for walking the streets of Sderot. There's no substitute for walking through the Kfar Aza. I must must tell you that as I laid my head to sleep last night, my thoughts were, were filled with grief and anger about what I witnessed, and it only steeled my determination to be a voice to support Israel, doing what needs to be done to eliminate the threat of Hamas once and for all," he concludes.

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Former US Vice President Mike Pence slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine on Monday, while also heavily criticizing the Biden administration for working alongside Russia to restore the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

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"I must tell you that as the travesty unfolds on the landscape of Ukraine, it is just unconscionable that the American administration is at the same time negotiating at the side of the Russians to restart the Iranian nuclear deal," Pence told Israel Hayom in an exclusive interview.

Video: Moshe Ben Simhon

Pence, who is visiting Israel this week, tied the situation with Ukraine to the current talks between Iran and the world powers in Vienna aimed at finding a way to have the US re-enter the 2015 deal, more than three years after the Trump administration left it.

"Putin must stop or Putin must pay," Pence said. "We need to focus the world's energy on ending the Ukrainian invasion and continuing to put pressure to bear until the Russian troops are out of Ukraine," he added, before attacking President Joe Biden for continuing his engagement with the Kremlin as part of the Vienna talks.

Pence said that reviving the deal "would be bad in a peacetime" but "to literally be working with the Russians to achieve once again some deeply flawed and dangerous agreement with the ayatollahs in Iran is just utterly unacceptable." Pence went on to say, "I believe that particularly at such a time as this, our administration in the US should not be working with Russia to ease sanctions or in any way put Iran back among the community of nations."

Pence, who is known to be a strong supporter of Israel, will receive an Honorary Doctorate from Ariel University in recognition of his steadfast contributions and achievements to strengthen the United States and the State of Israel.

The full interview will appear this Friday.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence, positioning himself for a possible return to elected office, told an audience in early-voting South Carolina that he will spend the coming months "pushing back on the liberal agenda" he says is wrong for the country.

"We've got to guard our values ... by offering a positive agenda to the American people, grounded in our highest ideals," Pence told an audience of several hundred on Thursday at a Columbia dinner sponsored by a conservative Christian nonprofit. "Now, over the coming months, I'll have more to say about all of that."

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Pence, whose relationship with President Donald Trump frayed as Trump pressured Pence to block certification of the presidential election results, praised Trump's tenure as "four years of promises made, promises, kept."

The choice of South Carolina for Pence's first public address since the end of the Trump administration has definite political overtones, helping him develop exposure for a potential 2024 presidential bid. The state holds the first presidential primaries in the South, and candidates of both major parties typically spend more than a year in South Carolina ahead of those votes, introducing themselves and trying to secure support.

Republican candidates use South Carolina as a proving ground to test their "pro-life" mettle. Thursday's event, hosted by Palmetto Family Council, also gave Pence a backdrop for some of the issues for which he long advocated as an Indiana congressman-turned-governor, such as restrictions on abortion and support for the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Palmetto Family – which lobbies for what it considers to be "biblical values," such as heterosexual marriage – most recently helped push through a ban on most South Carolina abortions, a law now being challenged in federal court.

"We will stand with the right of every American, of every faith, to live, to work, to speak and to worship according to the dictates of their conscience," Pence said.

Pence, who since leaving office has been doing work with the Heritage Foundation and Young America's Foundation, has not indicated if he plans a future run. As vice president, he made numerous trips to South Carolina, meeting several times with Gov. Henry McMaster for coronavirus-related forums and campaigning in the state for US Sen. Lindsey Graham and US Rep. Nancy Mace.

But the question of whether Pence's former boss will run again still looms large for the possible Republican field. Trump has not explicitly stated his plans but has teased a possible bid, saying Thursday on Fox Business that he's "100%" thinking about running in 2024 – and would even possibly consider Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his running mate.

Earlier this month, another possible GOP contender, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, said when asked about 2024 by The Associated Press that she would stand down if Trump opted to run again. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has launched an aggressive schedule, visiting states that will play a pivotal role in the 2024 primaries and signing a contract with Fox News Channel. DeSantis has been courting donors, including in Trump's backyard, with a prominent speaking slot before the former president at a GOP fundraising retreat dinner at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida resort where Trump now lives.

On Thursday, Pence highlighted accomplishments of the Trump administration, including three successful confirmations of US Supreme Court justices, withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and relocation of the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

He also recalled fondly their 2016 campaign, saying that Trump told him at the close of that year's GOP convention in Cleveland that the two of them would campaign hard, "and then he looked over at me, and he hit me in the shoulder, and he said, 'And then it's going to be great.'"

"And I've got to tell you, it was," Pence went on. "It was four years of consequences, four years of results, and four years of promises made, promises kept."

Earlier this month, Trump told Republican donors he was "disappointed" in Pence.

South Carolina Democratic Chair Trav Robertson said Pence was coming to the state to "try and salvage his relationship" with Trump supporters irked that Pence didn't support efforts to block certification of the 2020 presidential election.

On Thursday, Pence pledged to reveal more of his ideas soon, promising that he would be challenging the Biden administration's "avalanche of liberal policies" as he ramps up speaking engagements around the country.

"We have the winning agenda," Pence said. "And now it's incumbent upon us to take that winning agenda to the American people."

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein were received their first doses of the coronavirus vaccine at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer on Saturday evening.

Health Ministry Director-General Professor Hezi Levy and other senior members of Sheba's medical staff, including Professor Galia Rahav and Professor Gili Regev, also received their first coronavirus shots.

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"This is a great day for Israel. We've been fighting the worst pandemic humanity has seen in a century for nearly a year. By the end of the month, there will be millions of vaccines here, and later on, millions more. Everyone should be vaccinated. I asked to be the first one vaccinated, along with Health Minister Edelstein, in order to serve as a personal example and encourage the public to do the same. I believe in the vaccine. Tens of thousands have received it successfully. The best scientists have approved it. We can start now," Netanyahu said.

"This is a very exciting moment. On the way here, I was thinking about the children who are worried about their parents, about the grandchildren who want to hug their grandparents, about business owners who will be able to open their businesses; about restaurateurs, gyms, about how we'll be able to go to soccer stadiums, see soccer games, and of course, reopen the country and restore it to what it was. Go back to the normal life we long for. It starts with this." Netanyahu said.

"That was a small jab for a man, a huge step for the health of us all. May this be this successful. Go out and get vaccinated!" the prime minister said.

Netanyahu thanked Sheba Medical Center director Professor Itsik Kreiss, his personal physicial Dr. Zvi Herman Berkovitch, who administered his vaccine and all medical workers.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank a special person, CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla, a new personal friend of mine but a huge friend to Israel and humanity at large. What they have done is incredible. What is less obvious is that Israel is the first country to be vaccinated," the prime minister added.

Netanyahu had personally reached out multiple times to Bourla, boasting that at one point he was able to reach the CEO at 2 a.m.

After receiving his shot, Netanyahu was placed in observation for half an hour to monitor for possible allergic reactions.

Netanyahu said he felt "wonderful" and asked everyone to continue following the basic public health rules about social distancing, hand washing, masks, and avoiding gatherings.

"The faster everyone is vaccinated, the faster we'll get back to the normalcy we used to know – the economy, first of all. We'll invest more resources and effort in putting things back the way they were. We need your help, and it's up to us all," he stressed.

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"If everyone cooperates, both in following the rules and getting vaccinated, we'll make our way out of this. It's very possible that Israel might be the first country in the world to do so."

Israel has reported more than 366,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,000 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. The country currently is recording nearly 3,000 new cases a day, and officials have begun debating the possibility of a third nationwide lockdown to bring the outbreak under control.

Israel has an agreement with Pfizer to secure 8 million doses of the US pharmaceutical company's vaccine – enough to cover nearly half of Israel's population since each person requires two doses.

Israel has mobile vaccination units with refrigerators that can keep the Pfizer shots at the required minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 F). Israel reached a separate agreement with Moderna earlier this month to purchase 6 million doses of its vaccine – enough for another 3 million Israelis. Officials expect to be able to administer over 60,000 doses a day.

Edelstein said that Saturday's date, Dec. 19, held personal significance for him. "On this date in 1984 I was tried in the Soviet Union for my desire to make aliyah. Today, on Dec. 19, 2020, I have the great privilege of being the health minister and launching, along with the prime minister, Israel's vaccination campaign, which will test the strength of Israeli society. Friends, there are reasons to be optimistic."

Levy called the evening "historic, after a difficult year and given the growing number of cases right now. Finally, we are starting to vaccinate the population with a vaccine that has been proven safe and effective in clinical trials. Without a doubt, there is hope of preventing more cases after mass vaccination of the population."

The Health Ministry has reported that the vaccination campaign will be initiated in stages.

"Israel has hundreds of thousands of vaccines, and millions more are soon due to arrive by air. We will supply vaccines to the healthcare providers and to vaccination centers. We are happy to report that we will be able to provide the two doses of the coronavirus vaccine that are needed," the ministry said.

Starting Sunday, Israel plans to begin administering vaccines to medical workers and nursing home residents.

Netanyahu is not the only world leader to roll up his sleeve and receive the vaccination in an attempt to encourage his country's residents to do the same. On Friday, US Vice President Mike Pence was vaccinated.

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The incident went unmentioned onstage, with the Republican vice president and Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris continuing to focus on the discussion of systemic racism in the justice system.

But as the insect took up residence on Pence's white hair, the social media firestorm was immediate — and intense. It easily created more, well, buzz than nearly anything else that occurred.

"That's not on your TV. It's on his head," tweeted MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. "The fly knows," tweeted author Stephen King. Others joked about the creature perhaps getting stuck in hair spray — or possibly now being a prime candidate for coronavirus testing.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden immediately got in on the act, tweeting a photo of himself clutching an orange flyswatter under the heading "Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly." Moments later, he tweeted again, this time highlighting "Flywillvote.com," which took users to a website set up for his campaign to help supporters make plans to vote.

Pence had spent much of the night shaking his head in response to Harris' answers. But the vice president didn't appear to notice the fly's arrival. Despite his talking and normal body movements, the hot stage lights and those virus-fighting barriers, the fly was unperturbed. It finally flew away on its own.

Wednesday night's visitor wasn't the first fly to take center stage at a presidential debate. In 2016, one briefly landed between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's eyes during a town hall-style debate with now-President Donald Trump. Clinton didn't flinch.

President Barack Obama, however, took action when confronted with an airborne distraction during the taping of a television interview in 2009. Obama stopped speaking to swat at a buzzing fly and tell it to "get out of here." As interviewer John Harwood quipped, "That's the most persistent fly I've ever seen," Obama concentrated on its path and swatted it dead.

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Pence, who leads the president's coronavirus task force, acknowledged that "our nation's gone through a very challenging time this year," yet vigorously defended the administration's overall response to a pandemic that has killed 210,000 Americans.

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The meeting, which was far more civil than last week's chaotic faceoff between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, unfolded against an outbreak of coronavirus now hitting the highest levels of the U.S. government. Trump spent three days at the hospital before returning to the White House on Monday, and more than a dozen White House and Pentagon officials are also infected, forcing even more into quarantine.

With less than four weeks before Election Day, the debate was one of the final opportunities for Trump and Pence to reset a contest that could be slipping away. They're hoping to move the campaign's focus away from the virus, but the president's infection – and his downplaying of the consequences – are making that challenging.

Trump and Biden are scheduled to debate again on Oct. 15, though the status of that meeting is unclear. The president has said he wants to attend, but Biden says it shouldn't move forward if Trump still has coronavirus.

Republicans desperately want to cast the race as a choice between two candidates fighting to move the country in vastly different directions. Biden and Harris, they say, would pursue a far–left agenda bordering on socialism; the Democrats say Trump's administration will stoke racial and other divides, torpedo health care for people who aren't wealthy and otherwise undercut national strength.

Harris, 55, made history by becoming the first Black woman to stand on a vice presidential debate stage. She condemned the police killings of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minnesota and spoke about the protests against racial injustice in policing that followed, which Trump has portrayed as "riots" as he calls for law–and–order.

"We are never going to condone violence but we must always fight for the values that we hold dear," Harris said. "I'm a former career prosecutor. I know what I'm talking about. Bad cops are bad for good cops."

Pence, 61, said his heart breaks for Taylor's family but he trusts the U.S. justice system. He called it "remarkable" that Harris, as a former attorney general and prosecutor, would question the grand jury's decision in the case not to charge an officer with killing her.

He also pushed back against the existence of systemic racism in police departments and rejected the idea that law enforcement officers have a bias against minorities.

"I want everyone to know who puts on the uniform of law enforcement every day, President Trump and I stand with you," Pence said. "We don't have to choose between supporting law enforcement, proving public safety and supporting our African American neighbors."

The candidates also clashed on taxes – or specifically, Trump's refusal to release his tax returns four years after repeatedly promising to do so. The New York Times reported last month that the president pays very little personal income tax but owes hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

"It'd be really good to know who the president owes money to," Harris said.

"The one thing we know about Joe, he puts it all out there. He is honest, he is forthright," she added. "Donald Trump, on the other hand, has been about covering up everything."

Pence defended Trump as a job creator who has paid more than his fair share of taxes and shifted toward Biden: "On Day One, Joe Biden's going to raise your taxes."

Both candidates sidestepped difficult questions at times.

Pence refused to say whether climate change was an existential threat or whether Trump would accept the election results should he lose, while Harris declined to say whether Biden would push to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court.

But so long as the coronavirus is ravaging the White House and killing several hundred Americans each day, the campaign will almost certainly be a referendum on the Trump administration's inability to control the pandemic, which Republicans have sought to downplay or ignore altogether for several months.

Pence's effort to focus on other topics was undercut by the mere fact that the candidates and moderator were separated by plexiglass shields, seated more than 12 feet apart and facing a crowd of masked audience members who faced expulsion if they removed their face coverings. The candidates on stage revealed test results earlier in the day proving they were not infected.

While the audience was forced to wear face masks throughout, second lady Karen Pence removed her mask as she joined her husband on stage at the end of the debate.

Though the night was about Pence and Harris, the men at the top of the ticket also made their presence known.

Trump released a video just three hours before the debate calling his diagnosis "a blessing in disguise" because it shed light on an experimental antibody combination that he credited for his improved condition – though neither he nor his doctors have a way of knowing whether the drug had that effect.

He tweeted several times during the debate, offering this assessment at one point: "Mike Pence is doing GREAT! She is a gaffe machine."

Biden too kept a stream of tweets going; he posted his plans for confronting the virus, shared clips from the debate exchanges and praised Harris, who he said "is showing the American people why I chose her as my running mate."

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Making the case for US President Donald Trump's re-election, Pence warned that if elected, Senator Bernie Sanders would be the complete opposite of Trump as it pertains to the US-Israel relationship.

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"We must ensure that the most pro-Israel president in history must not be replaced by one who would be the most anti-Israel president in the history of this nation," said Pence at the annual AIPAC Policy Conference, where he slammed Sanders for calling Israel "a racist state" and defaming AIPAC as "a platform for bigotry."

On February 23, Sanders announced that he would skip the AIPAC conference.

"If we can agree on one thing, it should be this: Those who side with Israel's enemies must never be allowed to call themselves friends of Israel," said Pence. "It is wrong to boycott and slander Israel. It is wrong to boycott and slander AIPAC."

Pence also said that "anti-Semitism is anti-Zionism."

The US vice president also said it was troubling that none of the Democratic candidates challenged Sanders on the stage during a recent Democratic debate "when Bernie Sanders smeared Israel."

In his speech, Pence touted Trump's pro-Israel achievements, including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the US embassy there; withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal; closing the PLO mission in Washington, D.C.; defunding US assistance to the Palestinian Authority for rewarding terrorists and their families; defunding US funding for UNRWA; combatting anti-Israel bias at the United Nations; deeming Israeli neighborhoods in Judea and Samaria as not illegal; signing an executive order to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses; and eliminating Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the conference ahead of Israel's vote on March 2.

On the US side, the timing was also sensitive, as Pence's comments came ahead of Super Tuesday, with the stage set for a clash between Sanders, the current front-runner, and Joe Biden, whose campaign was revitalized with a solid performance in South Carolina and the support of former candidates Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, who withdrew from the race on Monday.

AIPAC has traditionally worked as a bipartisan platform, but in the recent months, it was forced to apologize over a contentious Facebook ad jabbing at "radicals" among Democrats seeking to sabotage the US-Israeli ties.

The conference concludes on Tuesday.

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Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was the first dignitaries to speak, saying he was going to speak in Hebrew rather than English because of the special event.

"Thank you for your solidarity, and for remembering those who perished," he told world leader. "Today we also remember that the international community worked together then, in World War II, and we must do the same today in the face of radical forces," he continued.

"We, too, are here standing as kings, leaders and statesmen in @YadVashem in Jerusalem to remember and never forget," @ruvirivlin says. #UnitedinMemory75

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his job as prime minister, his ultimate job is to prevent another Holocaust and to ensure that "this is not an empty slogan, but a constant imperative."

"The Jewish people have learned the lessons of the #Holocaust - to take seriously the threats of those who seek our destruction," @netanyahu. #UnitedinMemory75 "Israel must ALWAYS remain the master of our fate."

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020

He further said that the Holocaust would not happen today because the Jews were no longer defenseless and have the means to fend off threats.

"For many, Auschwitz is the ultimate symbol of evil, but for Jews, it's more than the symbol of evil – it's also the symbol of Jewish powerlessness. The culmination of what happens when our people have no voice, no land and no shield," he said. "But today we have a voice, we have a land, and we have a shield."

Netanyahu further reiterated the dangers of ignoring Iran's nuclear program calling it the "most anti-Semitic regime in the world."

"I call on all governments to join the efforts in confronting Iran," @netanyahu urges. "#Israel will do whatever it must do to defend its people and the #Jewish future." #UnitedinMemory75

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020

Following Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin took the podium, saying that the Holocaust "is a tragedy we will never forget." He said that some of the Nazi collaborators were worse than the Nazis themselves, recalling the many Jews that were murdered under Nazi-occupied areas of the Soviet Union.

"We all bear the responsibility that tragedies don't repeat themselves. We must remember the siege of Leningrad, and Babi Yair, when the first signs of anti-Semitism reared its ugly head; we can't ignore it. We must do everything in our power to protect the peace," he continued.

US Vice President Mike Pence said that "on this occasion, we gather to fulfill the solemn obligation, the obligation of remembrance," adding the word "remember" is a constant obligation of every generation.

"We remember the dark stain of human history, the worst evil ever perpetuated," he continued, before praising those who survived the Holocaust.

"We must be prepared to stand as they did, against the wave of their time, we must expose the vile tide of anti-Semitism that is spewing hate all across the world, and in the same spirit and we must stand strong against the leading state-purveyor of Holocaust, against the country that wants to wipe Israel off the map, against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.

@VP: We must stand strong against the leading state purveyor of anti-semitism, the one government in the world who denies the Holocaust: the world must stand strong against the Islamic Republic of #Iran.#UnitedinMemory75

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020

"The American people have been with you every step of the way since 1948 and so we will remain!" he said, drawing a round of applause.

After concluding his speech, Rivlin and Netanyahu stood up to shake his hand and praised him for his strong support of Israel. President Emmanuel Macron of France also got up to shake his hand.

Prince Charles made sure to mention the UK's deep commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and his own family history of saving Jews, recalling that his grandmother Princess Alice saved Jews in Nazi-occupied Athens.

"We must never forget that this is also our story – a story of incomprehensible inhumanity. An evil that can't be described doesn't mean it can't be defeated or fully understood or overcome," he said.

Prince Charles: If we don't make the connection between past atrocities and the present, there is no point to it. The Holocaust must never be a mere fact in history. The lessons of the Holocaust are still relevant today.#UnitedinMemory75

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020

"Let us recommit ourselves to tolerance and respect and that those who lived through this darkness will forever be a light unto the nations and guide the generations that follow," he said, quoting the prophet Isaiah.

Prince Charles: We must never forget that every human being is k'olam maleh (like an entire universe). #UnitedinMemory75

— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020

Holocaust survivors in attendance at the event along with the high-level officials. Pence and  Putin arrived early Thursday, a day after dozens of the world leaders converged on Jerusalem.

Israel's President @PresidentRuvi greeting one of the #Holocaust survivors, who is 100 years old, attending the World Holocaust Forum at @yadvashem #Jerusalem #WHF2020JLM #WeRemember #unitedinmemory75 #NeverAgain #Auschwitz75 #WorldHolocaustForum pic.twitter.com/6reOxSmuHS

— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) January 23, 2020

Even Russian astronauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexsandr Skvortsov made sure to pay tribute to the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, pausing their work at the International Space Station to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day (which officially takes place next week).

The two cosmonauts appeared for a zero-gravity photo with the caption: "We Remember."

Commemorating the Holocaust... from outer space. Astronauts with @roscosmos dedicated the time to take #WeRemember photos in solidarity against all forms of xenophobia for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

With special thanks to the Russian Jewish Congress. pic.twitter.com/H5KOjqHZ1m

— WJC (@WorldJewishCong) January 22, 2020

Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu and Putin inaugurated a memorial for those who fought the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II.

WATCH LIVE: Russian President Putin and Prime Minister Netanyahu dedicate the monument in memory of the heroism of the soldiers and residents of Leningrad during the siege in World War II, at Sachar Park in Jerusalem. #UnitedinMemory75
https://t.co/AQv1cqWXuX

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 23, 2020

On Wednesday, Rivlin hosted his counterparts and other high-level officials at his residence for a state banquet, during which he called on them to fight anti-Semitism with action, not just words.

He also urged the various countries to put aside their differences regarding the proper way for remembering the tragedies of World War II and the Holocaust, saying that "history should be left to historians."

You can watch the main event at Yad Vashem below and on our Facebook page.

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Pence is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday, to take part in the Fifth World Holocaust Forum alongside dozens of world leader. The embassy meeting, which will take place that same day, could be Netanyahu's way of showing his appreciation to the Trump administration's daring move of relocating the embassy from Tel Aviv despite international opposition.

Netanyahu usually meets with visiting dignitaries at the Prime Minister's Office or at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

Pence, who is considered one of the most pro-Israel figures in the administration, was a strong advocate of the move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

He will be one of the keynote speakers at the Holocaust forum, which will mark the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

He is also expected to visit the Western Wall, potentially with Netanyahu, and meet with President Reuven Rivlin.

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"We didn't think it was a great idea to visit Ramallah," a Foreign Ministry official told Israel Hayom. "We told the French [delegation] we weren't thrilled about it, but it was [Macron's] decision."

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Macron is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning followed by a meeting with President Reuven Rivlin.

He will meet with Abbas in Ramallah in the late afternoon hours.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, will meet with US Vice President Mike Pence at the US Embassy in Jerusalem on Thursday. It will be an uncommon setting for such a meeting, as Netanyahu convenes the vast majority of state visits at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, his official residence on Balfour Street in the capital or the King David Hotel on special occasions.

The meeting with Pence at the US Embassy in south Jerusalem is scheduled to take place on Thursday, after which the two are expected to visit the Western Wall in the Old City.

The American vice president is slated to land in Israel on Thursday morning. He plans to meet with Rivlin and Netanyahu, as stated. He will also deliver a speech on behalf of the US at the main ceremony at Yad Vashem.

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