Day one. [ cheering and applause ] i will meet with Prime Minister netanyahu immediately. I have known him for many years, and well be able to work closely together to help bring stability and peace to israel and to the entire region. Donald trumps comments continuing as he said he would not treat israel like a secondclass citizen, something he alleges president obama is doing right now. Donald trump speaking just moments ago. Ted cruz going to be giving his crucial Foreign Policy speech in just a few moments. Well be bringing that to you live. All coming on a day that president obama was cementing his Foreign Policy legacy, something that is central to where i am right now, cuba, where he is trying to normalize relations with this country. Something donald trump and ted cruz disagree with. Today, barack obama met with the cuban president. They had a press conference and took questions from the media. The first time the cuban president has ever done that and president obama made a bold prediction. The embargo is going to end. When . I cant be entirely sure, but i believe it will end and the path that were on will continue beyond my administration. That embargo going to be lifted. The president sharing the stage with raul castro, who became visibly upset when he was asked by jim acosta about Political Prisoners in cuba. Translator what Political Prisoners . Give me the names or when the meeting is over, you give me a list of the prisoners and if there are those Political Prisoners before the end of the night, they will be released. A pretty incredible moment getting visibly anger and aggressive there when jim asked that question. That is the first time raul castro, of course, jim, took questions from the press. When he first called out and i heard your name jim acosta, i was not surprised. You, of course, are a cuban american. He was visibly angry at that part of it. Thats right, erin. He didnt like the question, but when you talk to white house officials, they say the fact that the question was asked is progress. Im going to interrupt you. Im sorry. Were going to get back to jim in just a moment. But right now, i want to go to ted cruz. I promised you he would be speaking. Well be back in cuba in a moment. Lets listen to ted cruz. [ cheering and applause ] on wednesday night of this week in synagogues across the world, jewish people will read the purim, the miraculous rescue of the jewish people from the hands of a wicked persian king. When the evil doer haman plots to kill the jews, he describes them as a nation who is scattered and spread out. The jewish people at time were divided amongst themselves and the lesson is when the forces of good are divided, evil can prevail. But when we come together in unity, together we can defeat tyrants. Today, we are reliving history, facing a similar time of challenge for america and for israel. But today, i give you a word of hope. In the next few months, we will bring this country together first by unifying the Republican Party and then by reaching out and building a coalition of young people and hispanics and africanamericans and women and Blue Collar Workers and Jewish Voters and reagan democrats. [ cheering and applause ] which will lead to a commanding victory in november that unifies this country and brings us together. [ applause ] and standing together, america will stand with israel and defeat radical islamic terrorism. [ cheering and applause ] i want to thank the delegates, the over 18,000 people here, the 4,000 young people, the leaders of the proisrael movement who are gathered here today. You will play a critical leadership role in making this happen and bringing us together. Indeed. Just today, my colleague Lindsey Graham very kindly hosted an event for me here, which should allay any doubts anyone might have that the god of abraham, isaac, and jacob can still do miracles. [ applause ] i want to begin by asking all of us to remember taylor force, a texan who hailed from lubbock, an eagle scout, a west point graduate, an army veteran on march 8th, he was stabbed to death by a Palestinian Terrorist in israel. The terrorist didnt ask for his passport. Influenced by the Relentless Campaign of incitement that has fostered genocidal hatred towards jews, all he cared about was injuring as many people as possible. At least ten people were wounded. The brutal murder of taylor force is another reminder that america and israel are in the fight together against radical islamic terrorism. [ applause ] we need a president who will be a champion for america, and we need a president who will be a champion for israel. [ applause ] in my time in the senate, i have endeavored to do both. In the four years ive been serving in the senate, ive been privileged to travel three times to the state of israel. I had the great privilege of seeing a hospital in northern israel where they have treated over 1,000 refugees from syria wounded in that horrible syrian civil war, have done so free of charge, showing the heart and character of the people of israel. [ applause ] when the nation of iran named as their ambassador to the United Nations a known terrorist who participated in Holding Americans hostage in the late 1970s, people in washington said there was nothing we could do. Well, i was proud to introduce legislation barring him from coming to america. That legislation passed the senate 1000. It passed the house 4350. And it was signed into law by president obama. [ applause ] when israel was facing relentless rocket attacks from hamas and the prayers of all of us and people across the world were with israel, Prime Minister netanyahu powerful observed we are using Missile Defense to protect our civilians, and they are using their civilians to protect their missiles. I entirely agree with Prime Minister netanyahu as hamas would place rockets in elementary schools. They placed their headquarters in the basement of a hospital, and i would note that Hillary Clinton in 2014 explained this as follows. Quote, hamas puts its missiles, its rockets, in civilian areas. Part of it is because gaza is pretty small and its densely populated. Madame secretary, with all respect the reasons missiles are in schools is not because gaza is small. Its because terrorists are using schools as human shields. [ cheering and applause ] and in response to this atrocity, i was proud to join with new york democrat Kirsten Gillibrand in authoring a resolution in harboring missiles in schools as a war crime and that passed. We saw the Obama Administration cancel civilian airline nights in the nation of israel. When that happened, i publicly ask the question did this Administration Just launch an economic boycott on the nation of israel. [ applause ] the administration does not ban flights into pakistan, does not ban nights into yemen, does not ban flights into afghanistan. Did not ban flights to the ukraine. So why exactly was a dis disproportionate sanction put on israel because a rocket fell near one of the safest airports in the world . Why was that time to coincide with john kerry arriving in the middle east with 47 million for gaza that would inevitably end up with hamas terrorists. When i asked that question, within hours the state department was being asked is this an economic boycott of israel. The state Department Said that question is ridiculous. We refuse to answer. I responded, fine. I will place a hold on every nominee to the state department. Shortly thereafter former new york mayor Michael Bloomberg rode a civilian airliner from london to tel aviv demonstrating it was safe to fly to israel. [ cheering and applause ] and as a result of mayor bloombergs efforts and my efforts and that of millions of others, the heat and light of attention became too much on this administration and within 36 hours this administration lifted its ban on civilian flights to israel. Looking forward as president , i will lead very, very differently from the current administration. [ cheering and applause ] imagine just a few years ago if i had come to an aipac conference and suggested that the Prime Minister of israel was going to come to america, address a joint session of congress, and he would be boycotted by the president of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, and every member of the cabinet. That would have been dismissed as crazy, fanciful, that could never happen, and sadly thats exactly what did happen when Prime Minister netanyahu came to address congress. [ applause ] in a similar vein, my leading republican opponent has promised that he has president would be neutral between israel and the palestinians. Well, let me be very, very clear. As president , i will not be neutral. [ cheering and applause ] america will stand unapologetically with the nation of israel. [ cheering and applause ] so what does that mean specifically . Lets start with todays persian king, the nation of iran. Both Hillary Clinton and donald trump have said they would maintain this iranian deal, although donald would, as promised, negotiate and get a better deal. Well, my view is very different. On the first day in office, i will rip this catastrophic Iranian Nuclear deal to shreds. [ cheering and applause ] this agreement gives over 100 billion to the ayatollah. That dwarves the 3 billion in military aid we give to israel each year. It is fundamentally immoral. If i am president , on the first day we will reimpose sanctions on iran. In a mockery of this Iranian Nuclear deal, iran has continued with missile tests, including launching a missile with the words printed on it in both hebrew and farsi israel should be wiped from the earth. Here my words ayatollah. If i am president and iran launches a missile test, we will shoot that missile down. [ cheering and applause ] and in january 2017, we will have a commander and chief who says under no circumstances will iran be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Either you will shut down your Nuclear Program or we will shut it down for you. [ cheering and applause ] a year ago when Prime Minister netanyahu addressed congress, i was honored to join a Panel Discussion in the senate about this disastrous iranian deal. Not a single democrat was willing to join the panel, to sit alongside someone who witnessed the horrors of the holocaust, who brings a moral weight and gravity second to none. It was both powerful and humbling, and i am convinced after this election the American People will stand and say together never again means never again. [ applause ] on my very first day in office, i will begin the process of moving the American Embassy in israel to jerusalem, the once and eternal capital of israel. [ cheering and applause ] now i recognize for years a whole lot of president ial candidates, both republicans and democrats, have said that. Indeed, i recognize some candidates have said that standing here today. Heres the difference. I will do it. [ applause ] and as president , i will do everything in my power to ensure that anyone who provides Financial Support to the bds movement, including schools and universities, will lose any access to federal funding. [ cheering and applause ] and to the extent that they have engaged in illegal behavior, theyll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All of us here understand that israel is not the barrier to peace. It is the Palestinian Authority in a socalled unit government with hamas that celebrates the murder of women and children and incites and even compensates the terrorist attacks. If the palestinians try to push through a United Nations resolution to unilaterally declare palestinian statehood, america will veto that resolution. Indeed, i tell you today i will fly to new york to personally veto it myself. [ cheering and applause ] now, some have asked, why on earth did a cuban american texan become one of the leading defenders of israel in the United States congress. Well, i would say there are several reasons. First of all, i understand that standing with israel benefits aerica. [ applause ] israel is a liberal democracy that shares our values. Israel is a steadfast and loyal ally and our military aid to israel is not charity. It is rather furthering the Vital National security interests of the United States of america whether it is Missile Defense from iron dome to david sling or intelligence or military cooperation. Israel provides an enormous benefit to keeping america safe and protecting us from radical islamic terrorists. [ applause ] but on a very personal level, for me, much of my view of israel is framed by my family story. My father was born and raised in cuba. As a kid, he fought in the cuban revolution. He was imprisoned. He was tortured. My father fled cuba in 1957. When he came to america, he had nothing. He had 100 sewn into his underwear and he washed dishes making 50 cents an hour. He paid his way through school. He went on to start a small business. When i was a kid, my dad used to say to me over and over again, when i faced oppression in cuba, i had a place to flee to. If we lose our freedom here, where do we go . And i will tell you it is an incredible blessing the to be the child of an immigrant who fled oppression and came to america seeking freedom. There is one other nation on earth like the United States of america that was created as on oasis, as a beacon of hope and that is israel. It is a beacon of light to the world. [ cheering and applause ] and all of us here understand, as Ronald Reagan did, that peace is achievable only through strength. This is what israel understands when you are surrounded by neighbors who would drive you into the sea. Somehow you dont have time for political correctness. [ applause ] weakness is provocative. Appeasement increases the chance of military conflict. Indeed, i believe this Iranian Nuclear deal is munich in 1938 and we risk once again catastrophic consequences to allowing a homicidal maniac to acquire the tools to murder millions. [ applause ] the way to avoid conflict is to stand up to bullies, and it is worth remembering that this same nation, iran, in 1981 released our hostages the day Ronald Reagan was sworn into office. [ cheering and applause ] that is the difference. A strong commander and chief can make. Together, standing as one, we can and will do it again. Thank you. God bless america. Ted cruz with major, major applause there at his speech at that crucial aipac conference, talking about israel. Also, of course, talking a little bit about cuba where i am tonight. I want to go straight to donald trump supporter jeffrey lord. Donald trump spoke moments ago at aipac ahead of ted cruz. Ambassador orren, at times these speeches are competitive. Ted cruz says the difference is everyone says theyll move the embassy to jerusalem and i will do it. Who gave the better speech . Reporter i have to say they all gave outstandingly proisrael speeches. In israel, im the person who has to explain whats going on behind us and its been difficult for me. They keep on asking in israel what are Donald Trumps policies. I have to say the three hardest words any politician can say is i dont know. Tonight, he gave his first president ial speech on issues relating to israel and the middle east. He was unequivocal in all positions. As someone who represents israel abroad, he basically gave all the talking points, whether it be moving the embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem to holding the palestinians accountable for terror. Everything. It makes my job easier. It probably makes republicans jobs harder because now they have a candidate who comes out very specifically on policy issues. And before i talk about who means it. From your perspective, do you trust donald trump that he means it . Ted cruz has been saying these things for quite sometime. Donald trump on the iran deal last august, for example, says others want to rip that deal up. I would take a bad contract and enforce it and try to do better with what i have. Tonight he has unequivocal that he would get rid of the deal. Do you believe everything he said in his speech just moments ago . Ambassador orrin. For me, hi. I have no grounds for not believing what he said. Again, its not my position as an elected official of the state of israel. Again, he was very, very specifically on the policy issues as was ted cruz and Hillary Clinton earlier today as well as kasich. The differences are, though, the republicans are calling for moving the American Embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. Theyre talking about either dismantling or more strictly enforcing the iran nuclear deal. Something Hillary Clinton didnt talk about today. These are the differences the audience of 18,000 behind me are going to be very attuned too. Obviously, hes an elected official now in israel, but what he just said is donald trump just made republicans job harder because he said all the things he needed to say about moving that embassy, about recognizing jerusalem, about the iran deal, about