Sen. Cruz at Historic U.S. Embassy Opening in Jerusalem

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) on a Congressional delegation trip to attend the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Sen. Cruz has long advocated and co-sponsored legislative efforts for the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the rightful capital of Israel and move its embassy there. While in Israel, the senators met with senior Israeli government officials and discussed mutual interests and national security issues that face the two countries.

Several news outlets covered Sen. Cruz’s remarks and his support for the U.S. Embassy opening. Selected news coverage is below:

Houston Chronicle: Ted Cruz, in Israel, says U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem sends 'powerful message'
“Cruz has long advocated for the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem and was among several U.S. political leaders attending the opening celebration, which has been the focus of bloody protests by Palestinians on the 70th anniversary of the formation of Israel. ‘It is a great honor to witness this historic occasion,’ Cruz said in a statement released by his Senate office. ‘Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocating the U.S. Embassy sends a powerful message that America will stand by our friends and allies, and we will stand up to our enemies. Moreover, it furthers the chances of peace in the Middle East by demonstrating that America's support for Israel is unconditional and will not be bullied by global media opinion.’ Cruz traveled to Israel as part of a Senate Armed Services delegation that includes Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Dean Heller (R-Nev.). They were also expected to meet with senior Israeli government officials to discuss counter-terrorism and national security issues affecting the United States and Israel.”

Breitbart: (AUDIO) Ted Cruz: Israel Is ‘Undoubtedly’ a Model for Securing Our Borders
“‘For Israel, borders are life or death,’ Cruz continued. ‘Borders are ensuring that innocent men, women, and children are not murdered by terrorists seeking to destroy them. And so, there is a great deal we can learn on border security from Israel in terms of how to effectively secure a border.’ As one of Congress’s most vocal advocates for the Jewish State, Cruz called the relocation of America’s embassy, as required by a 1995 law, a ‘momentous occasion.’ Both the United States and Israel herself recognize Jerusalem as the capital, but until Monday, the U.S. had kept its embassy with most other countries in Tel Aviv.” 

Fox News: (VIDEO) Sen. Cruz Attends the Opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem
“Sen. Ted Cruz spoke with Fox News at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem along with Sens. Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, and Dean Heller. ‘Well listen, undoubtedly, there’s a serious problem with terrorists. Some months ago, I joined with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in introducing a resolution that both houses of Congress passed unanimously condemning the use of human shields as a war crime. And the violence we’ve seen in response of what happened today -- it’s sad. Because this is simply recognizing an undeniable truth: that Jerusalem is the undivided and eternal capital of Israel. And that’s been true since 70 years ago today when Israel, the modern state of Israel, was created. And that was true 3,000 years ago. The fact that President Trump demonstrated the courage to keep his promise is a message heard by our friends and by our enemies. America keeps her word and we stand with the nation of Israel. That’s incredibly important.’”

Jerusalem Post: U.S. Senator: Jerusalem Embassy Proves There’s a New Sheriff in Town
“Both Graham and Senator Ted Cruz said the embassy opening was a signal that the U.S. era of ‘appeasement’ was over and that America will stand strong in defense of its friends and against its enemies. […] But the Republican senators said it was a move that supported peace and did not negate the option of a peace deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ‘Whatever chance there may be for peace, that chance will be heightened when we move the embassy,’ Cruz said. For local political reasons, Arab allies in the region have to denounce this move, he added. But secretly, the Egyptians and the Saudis ‘will be deeply relieved,’ Cruz said, because it proves to them that the US and Trump in particular has the courage to take a strong stance on significant issues in the Middle East, including Iran. ‘By moving the embassy, America makes clear that we stand by our friends and that we are willing to stand up to our enemies,’ he said.”

KFDA: (VIDEO) Cruz, Graham Praise Embassy Move to Jerusalem
“Texas Senator Ted Cruz was among the Republican senators who attended the Embassy opening in Jerusalem. Cruz, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah, and Dean Heller of Nevada, were on hand and made comments praising the President’s decision to move the Embassy. […] ‘When the modern state of Israel was the modern state of Israel was created, it took all of eleven minutes for President Harry Truman to recognize Israel rightly, leading the world and the rest of the world follow suit. I believe that President Trump’s decision, the right decision, to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will go down in history as a decision of similar moment.’”

KPRC: (VIDEO) Sen. Cruz Attends Embassy Opening
“Sen. Cruz traveled to Jerusalem to attend the U.S. Embassy opening ceremony in Jerusalem. ‘By moving the Embassy, America makes clear that we stand by our friends, and that simultaneously that we are willing to stand up to our enemies.’ Sen. Cruz also said that he hopes that other countries will relocate their embassies to Jerusalem.”

KXAS: (VIDEO) Sen. Cruz at the U.S. Embassy Opening in Jerusalem
“Sen. Cruz attended the U.S. Embassy opening in Jerusalem, and while there he praised President Trump’s decision to move the embassy calling it ‘historic.’ ‘When the modern state of Israel was created, it took all of eleven minutes for President Harry Truman to recognize Israel rightly, leading the world and the rest of the world follow suit. I believe that President Trump’s decision, the right decision, to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will go down in history as a decision of similar moment. A decision we are already seeing other countries follow, whether Guatemala or Paraguay or perhaps the Czech Republic, and I hope many others.’”

###