Dallas Pastor Takes Part in Historic Opening of US Embassy Opening in Jerusalem

Posted on May 14, 2018

UPDATED: 9:01AM

President Trump addresses US Embassy opening via video:

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UPDATED: 8:43AM  

During comments at the opening ceremony of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said, “In every presidential candidate has promised to move the US Embassy it Jerusalem, finally we have a leader who has kept his promise.”

Reuven “Ruvi” Rivlin is an Israeli politician and lawyer serving as the 10th and current President of Israel since 2014.

President Trump tweets ‘Congratulations’ to Israel.

UPDATED: 8:24AM

Amid deadly clashes along the Israeli-Palestinian border, senior aides to President Donald Trump are in Jerusalem celebrating the opening of the new U.S. embassy there. The relocation of the embassy from Tel Aviv has infuriated the Palestinians, who seek east Jerusalem as a future capital.

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UPDATED:  8: 15AM

Rev. Robert Jeffress

Dallas Megachurch Pastor Robert Jeffress delivered the opening prayer during the historic ceremony.

Jeffress has been a strong supporter of President Trump, who made the decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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UPDATED:  7:16AM

There is mixed reaction to the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem today. This Israeli boy thanks President Trump.

While in  in Jerusalem, there have been deadly protests on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip. The protests have turned deadly and the death toll is climbing quickly.

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UPDATED: 6:03AM

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin,  Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin arrive in Jerusalem for today’s ceremony.

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Original post:

Dallas (WBAP/KLIF) – Dallas megachurch pastor Robert Jeffress has been selected to give the opening prayer Monday at the controversial opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

Jeffress told Fox News’ ‘Fox & Friends, “This is a historic moment because it represents the United States recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, something that the Bible and secular history have told us for 3,000 years.”

The pastor of First Baptist Dallas has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and said that he had “courage that no other U.S. president has” had to move the embassy from Tel Aviv.

The move doesn’t come without its own share of controversy as Jeffress has made a number of offensive statements against Islam in the past.

Utah Senate candidate Mitt Romney says a prominent Baptist minister shouldn’t be giving the prayer that opens the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem because he’s a “religious bigot.”  In a tweet Sunday night, the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee criticized Dallas minister Robert Jeffress for his remarks about Jews, Mormons and Islam.

Romney said, “Robert Jeffress says `you can’t be saved by being a Jew,’ and `Mormonism is a heresy from the pit of hell.’ He’s said the same about Islam.”

The liberal group Media Matters reports on its website that Jeffress made the remarks cited by Romney in a 2011 speech at the conservative Values Voter Summit.

Jeffress responded in a tweet of his own by defending his view that “salvation is through faith in Christ alone.”

A White House delegation is in Israel for the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin will be among those attending the ceremony Monday. President Trump will address the event through a video message.

Copyright 2018. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. this Report Contains Material the Associated Press.

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