Date: Friday, October 18, 2019
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer, Director

Pence Secures Ceasefire

After five hours of intense meetings, Vice President Mike Pence announced yesterday that Turkish President Recep Erdogan has agreed to a five-day ceasefire "in order to allow [Kurdish forces] to withdraw from the safe zone."
President Trump had dispatched the vice president and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Ankara, and he also sent a very tough letter urging Erdogan to make a deal.

"We think the agreement today first ends the violence, which is what President Trump sent us here to do," Pence said. "We achieved that."

The vice president announced that Turkey will halt all military operations during the ceasefire and that Turkey will end all military operations pending complete Kurdish compliance with the terms of the ceasefire. Pence also announced that Turkey and the United States "mutually committed to the defeat of ISIS in northeast Syria."

"Turkey and the United States agree on the priority of respecting vulnerable human life, human rights, and particularly the protection of religious and ethnic communities in the region," Pence said during his press conference.

The vice president also thanked Americans who were praying for a peaceful outcome to this conflict. It is important that we continue to pray for peace, as there are reports of sporadic fighting today.

Pompeo Visits Jerusalem

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who assisted Vice President Pence during the ceasefire negotiations, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. Here are some excerpts of their remarks:

NETANYAHU: "I want to thank you and the president for your consistent support of Israel. The Middle East is a sea of troubles and turbulence. but if there is one thing that stands out, it's the durability, stability and strength of the American-Israel alliance. We talked about making it even stronger, and I want to thank you for consistent support."

POMPEO: "It's great to be back here in Israel. The remarkable close relationship of our two countries is as strong as it's ever been. . . We had a chance to talk this morning about all the challenges that the world faces and that Israel and the United States face head on together, as an importance beacon of hope and democracy here in the Middle East. . .

"We talked about all the efforts we have made to push back against the threat, not only to Israel, but to the region and the world, from the Islamic Republic of Iran. . . We appreciate all that you and your country does to assist America in keeping its people safe as well."

Honoring Israel

Last night, I was in the Quad Cities area of Iowa and Illinois for a Night to Honor Israel. The event was sponsored by Christians United for Israel and the MGT New Hope Church in Moline, Illinois.

The church was packed! There was tremendous representation from the local Jewish community as well, including Allan Ross, executive director of the Quad Cities Jewish Federation. I was honored to be the keynote speaker at this Night to Honor Israel, and my friend and colleague Pastor Lyndon Allen, CUFI's Central Region coordinator, also spoke.

Over the past two days, we did radio and TV interviews with local media, and I also addressed a lunch with evangelical leaders.

I want to tip my hat to Tom McGovern, CUFI's Iowa director, who has been hosting events like this for the past 16 years. Tom and his wife, Kate, were recognized by the local Jewish community and the Israeli government for their many years of dedicated pro-Israel work.

With all the problems confronting the country today, this patriotic crowd was truly inspiring. Their love for America and Israel was on full display as they belted out the American and Israeli national anthems. It was an encouraging reminder that "flyover country," as the left derisively calls it, is truly the heart of America!