Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service

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In the wake of backlash over President Obama’s decision to have diplomatic talks with Iran, high level Democrats are assuring the public that the U.S. commitment to Israel is as strong as ever.

But, “One enduring essential principle that will not change–United States support for Israel,” said Vice President Joe Biden to a standing ovation of more than 6,000 people at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee’s annual convention.

“The path we have been on in recent years has not produced peace and security for Israel and Palestinians, nor will they produce these results,” Biden said. “Because peace has not occurred, does not mean that it cannot occur.”

U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who also spoke at the event, supports the Obama Administration’s policy with Israel. “You can count on Vice President Biden and President Obama in the future,” he said.

Kerry tried to calm fears about Obama’s decision to engage in open discussions with Iran because he believed that the previous administration’s strategy with the Middle Eastern country failed, and that a change is warranted. But, if diplomacy fails, hardline sanctions will be sure to follow, Kerry said.

Since December 2008, foreign criticism of Israel reached new levels. Israel decided to retaliate against Hamas by launching a full military incursion into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Government maintains that the action was an attempt to halt hundreds of rockets that are launched over Israeli borders by militant groups in neighboring countries.

“I heard of (Israeli) children in the second grade who had spent literally everyday of their lives never 15 seconds from danger/ Fifteen seconds… No child should live that way,” said Kerry to the audience.

Kerry is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and pledged to do everything in his power “to ensure that the $30 billion in security assistance that Congress pledged to Israel is delivered in full.”

Kerry and Biden presented a challenge to Israel: that the country needs to work toward a workable, long lasting and sustainable peace.

Biden believes that any peace is a “show-me plan,” that each side must make efforts to demonstrate their dedication for the process to continue.

Biden said that the building of Israeli settlements must be stopped and that Palestinians must be given freedom of movement so the young people see hope, and do not join Hamas.

But peace must be sought from Paestinians and Israelis. “You cannot make peace out of one side of their mouth and preach hate out of another,” said Kerry, adding that Palestinian geography books should be realistic by including Israel on the map.

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) discusses how children in Sderot, in southern Israel, have but 15 seconds to find cover when the siren of a rocket attack sounds. He finds this way of life unacceptable and unfair. (0:17)

 

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Senator and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry (D-Mass.) pledged his support for Israel at AIPAC’s annual convention. He ensured that Israel would receive the entire $30 billion appropriated for it. (0:27)

 

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Senator Hillary Clinton speaks before the AIPAC policy conference about the rights and responsibilities that the American people have to stand by Israel. (0:31)

 

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Senator Barack Obama describes his first and current understanding of the Jewish people during his address at the AIPAC Policy Conference. (1:10)

 

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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks before the AIPAC conference about the contributions of Hillary Clinton, a leader whose contributions he described as “extraordinary.” (1:05)

 

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AIPAC, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, held the last day of its annual conference today in Washington D.C. With a week of speakers that has seen Republican candidate for President Senator John McCain and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, today was capped off with Republican Leader of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Majority Leader of the Senate Harry Reid (D-Nev.) – and those were just the warm up speakers. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and presumptive democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) closed out the day with extended speeches. (more…)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says that Iran is clearly a serious threat and those that disagree lack common sense. (0:44)

 

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Emphatic US support for the State of Israel was reiterated by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference. Secretary Rice declared that the United States’ special relationship with Israel stems from a mutual appreciation of ideals like a free press, democracy, and tolerance, saying that conspiracy arguments concerning the US, Israel, and AIPAC are entirely inaccurate. Rice firmly said that Israel has no better friend than the United States.

Though she admitted it to be an ambitious goal, Rice said the she hopes agreements reached at the peace summit held in Annapolis, Md. will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of the year. For this to occur, Rice said that Hamas must relinquish its fundamentalist actions while the US and Israel support the growing number of Palestinians that, according to Rice, are acting in the true interests of the Palestinian people. Rice added that a sovereign, peaceful Palestine is in the policy interests of both the United States and Israel.

Rice spoke at length about the need to engage in productive diplomacy , a gathering with means and incentives, with Iran. Rice restated the Bush administration’s stance that no effective diplomacy can take place until Iran disbands its nuclear research program. Rice said a state that denies the Holocaust and sponsors fundamentalist organizations cannot have access to a nuclear arsenal. Rice said she would be willing to meet with Iranian officials, including her Iranian counterpart, if this occured and questioned Tehran’s resistance to act.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) preceeded Secretary Rice’s statements. Sen. McConnell said that Iran must cut its ties with “murderous non-state actors” if it wants to be respected within the international community. Eli Amir spoke via satellite from Jerusalem about his experience as a Jewish refugee from Baghdad and urged AIPAC to consider in greater detail the experience of Jewish refugees from Arab countries. Amir said that after Israel’s independence, nearly the same number of Palestinians left Israel for Arab countries as the number of Jews who came to Israel from Arab countries, adding that both sides of refugee crises must be considered

At an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says that the state of Israel is a “singular achievement” as a great democracy of the Middle East, and that critics of the U.S.-Israeli alliance perhaps “do not fully understand the love of liberty and the pursuit of justice.” He said they should know, however, that “those ties will not be broken,” because the two nations were brought together by “shared ideals and shared adversity.” He said that the U.S. and Israel “are the most natural of allies and trusted partners in the quest for peace,” and like Israel itself, “that alliance is forever.” (0:54)

 

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