Sen. Ted Cruz, who appeared moments after Trump, began his speech with a shot at the GOP frontrunner. Trump referred three times to “Palestine” in his speech, but the U.S. government does not recognize the Palestinian Authority government as that of a sovereign and independent state. Cruz noted that it “might come as a surprise to the previous speaker [that] Palestine has not existed since 1948.” Trump’s solicitous speech to AIPAC came just hours after he had told reporters at a D.C. press conference that Israel is one of many countries that should pay the U.S. back for its foreign aid.
“I want them to pay us some money,” Trump said. “I think Israel will do that also, yeah. There are many countries that can pay.“
But moments later, Trump also told reporters of Israel: “They help us greatly.”
Cruz also hit Trump for his comment earlier this year that he would be “neutral” between Israel and the Palestinians.
“Let me be very clear. As president I will not be neutral. America will stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel,” Cruz said.