Edited by:  Fern Sidman

On Sunday afternoon, July 23rd, GOP Presidential candidate Nikki Haley was the featured speaker at a private reception on the Jersey Shore. Speaking about the problems plaguing America and how she would work to solve them, the former governor of South Carolina and the former United States Ambassador the United Nations displayed her staunchly pro-Israel credentials while also speaking of the threat of China and Russia in the geopolitical arena. Addressing the hundreds gathered at the private reception in the Jersey Shore town of Deal, the 2024 presidential hopeful also took questions from the audience and conducted one on one conversations about the issues that matter most to Americans who wish to preserve the core values that the United States was predicated on.

Several weeks ago, during a major foreign policy address at the American Enterprise Institute, Haley  said that former President Trump was “almost singularly focused” on the U.S.-China trade relationship but ultimately did “too little about the rest of the Chinese threat.”

Amb. Haley spoke on a range of issues facing the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. She discussed the important role that allies and partners play in blunting Chinese aggression and how the United States can build more robust relationships with them. Additionally, she elaborated on how the United States can use diplomatic tools that promote American interests and confront the growing China challenge. She also emphasized the link between the fate of Ukraine and that of the Indo-Pacific and argued that US power in Asia would diminish if the United States failed to support Ukraine.

Specifically, Haley noted that Trump failed to rally U.S. allies “against the Chinese threat” and that he had congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China.

Following the private reception, Ambassador Haley addressed a much larger crowd at the local Jewish Community Center. She was interviewed on a wide range of subjects and addressed the “woke, progressive” agenda being foisted upon Americans that is emanating from the Biden administration.

Despite South Carolina’s relatively small Jewish population, Haley prioritized passing landmark legislation related to Israel. One of the key bills she supported, initiated by State Representative Alan Clemmons, aimed to ban businesses that boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel from operating in South Carolina. The bill received widespread support and was swiftly signed into law, making South Carolina the first state to enact such legislation. Many other states followed suit, bolstering Haley’s reputation as a strong advocate for Israel.

Haley’s unwavering support for Israel garnered praise from influential Republican figures and Israeli diplomats. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham referred to Haley as a “strong supporter of the State of Israel” and believed her presence as ambassador would reassure those concerned about the United Nations’ hostility towards Israel. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations at the time, Danny Danon, hailed Haley as a “true friend of Israel” for her efforts in combatting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and her staunch defense of Israel’s interests.

During her tenure as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Haley continued to champion Israel’s cause on the international stage. She consistently criticized the United Nations for its biased treatment of Israel, citing the disproportionate number of resolutions against Israel compared to other nations. Haley vehemently opposed U.N. Resolution 2334, which deemed Israel’s settlements as illegal and violations of international law. She openly voiced her disapproval of the resolution and pledged to never abstain when the United Nations took actions conflicting with U.S. interests and values.

Haley dedicated significant efforts to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. She spoke at the 2017 AIPAC Policy Conference, highlighting the cultural similarities between her Indian heritage and Israeli culture. Haley emphasized the shared values of family, resilience, and determination. In addition, she expressed support for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocating the U.S. embassy there, a decision President Trump officially implemented in December 2017. Haley’s strong stance on Jerusalem resonated with pro-Israel supporters who valued her commitment to advancing the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Haley went beyond rhetorical support for Israel and actively sought to change aspects of the United Nations’ budgeting. Following the General Assembly’s rejection of President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States negotiated a $285 million reduction in funding to the United Nations. Haley also proposed a broader reassessment of foreign assistance to countries that opposed U.S. policies. She criticized the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), which allegedly provides aid to Palestinian refugees, considering it one of the most corrupt and counterproductive UN agencies.

The Forward reported that Haley also blocked the appointment of former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as a U.N. envoy to Libya. She spearheaded the U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council, a move that was welcomed in Israel given the council’s frequent criticism of the Jewish state. After 128 nations voted to reject Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Haley hosted a reception for the countries that voted against the resolution or abstained, as was reported by the Forward.

Haley consistently opposed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that was initiated by former President Barack Obama. Many have called it his signature foreign policy accomplishment while others have labeled it his biggest and most dangerous folly.  She argued that the United States “should align itself with agreements celebrated in Israel and protested in Iran, not the other way around.”

Haley said that one of the first things she would do if elected as the nation’s 47th president is immediately called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invite him to the White House. This affirmation stands in stark contradiction to the Biden administration’s decision to shun Netanyahu from visiting with the president.

All in all, Haley’s conservative bona fides were displayed in an eloquent, totally honest and commanding manner. Her stellar leadership skills combined with her extensive experience in the foreign policy arena were quite evident during her address and her impactful and optimistic remarks were exceptionally well received by those in attendance.