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Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
The ZOA congratulates former Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Melech Friedman on their receiving honorary doctorates from Ariel University in Samaria, Israel last week. (I strongly recommend reading Friedman’s great new book “Sledgehammer,” magnificently detailing how breaking with the old ineffective ideas is bringing peace deals with more Arab states…ZOA is proud to have given Amb. Friedman our “Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Award” at our national Gala and the “Zionist Hero Award” at our Florida Gala, where Friedman stated that the ZOA audience’s powerful and earnest response to his words about his hopes to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem inspired and motivated him to work even harder toward that goal…I’m also proud to say I sit on Ariel University’s Board of Governors.)
Both men richly deserve this honor for their diplomatic achievements enhancing the U.S.-Israel relationship; promoting U.S.-Israeli academic and scientific cooperation – including at Ariel University; respecting Israel’s rights, including the Jewish people’s rights to Israel’s eternal undivided capital Jerusalem and Judea/Samaria; countering threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran; and furthering peace between Israel and Arab nations. Both men have continued their important work even after leaving public office. For instance, Ambassador Friedman urged Israeli Minister of Justice Gideon Sa’ar to stand strong, and helped stave off the Biden administration’s plan to open a divisive consulate in Jerusalem for Palestinian Arabs – which would have undermined Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s undivided capital.
ZOA also praises the speeches given by both men during Ariel University’s beautiful ceremony (video). We also appreciate VP Pence’s tour in Hebron earlier that day, where VP Pence noted that Hebron is the “oldest Jewish community in the world.” The Jewish community in Hebron existed for thousands of years, until Arabs massacred Hebron’s Jewish community in 1929. Jews returned afterwards to rebuild this ancient Jewish community.
We are pleased that the speakers also honored our dear longtime friends and supporters – the extraordinary Dr. Miriam Adelson and her beloved departed husband who was the greatest Zionist in the world Sheldon G. Adelson – for their fabulous contribution of the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson School of Medicine at Ariel University. Ariel has become a major university, with distinguished schools of medicine, engineering, health sciences, natural sciences, architecture, the Cherna and Irving Moscowitz School of Communication, and social sciences and humanities. All are located on the Milken Family Campus. (ZOA is proud to say that the Moskowitz and Milken families are longtime and strong supporters of our work.) Ariel U has over 500 faculty members; and over 17,000 students from diverse backgrounds and faiths. It is an inspiring example of peaceful Jewish and Arab co-existence in Judea/Samaria.
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