Not when there’s still voices that deny the Holocaust; not when there are terrorist groups and political leaders committed to Israel’s destruction; not when there are maps across the Middle East that don’t even acknowledge Israel’s existence and government funded textbooks filled with hatred towards Jews; not when there are rockets raining down on Sderot and Israeli children have to take a deep breath and summon uncommon courage every time they board a bus or walk to school. I have long understood Israel’s quest for peace and need for security but never more so than during the travels that Lee referred to two years ago when I went to Israel. Flying in an IDF helicopter I saw a narrow beautiful strip of land nestled against the Mediterranean. On the ground I met a family who saw their house destroyed by a Katyusha rocket and I spoke to Israeli troops who faced daily threats as they maintained security near the Blue Line. I talked to people who wanted nothing more simple or more illusive than a secure future for their children.
I have been proud to be a part of a strong bipartisan consensus that has stood by Israel in the face of all threats. That is a commitment --that is a commitment that both John McCain and I share because support for Israel in this country goes beyond Party. But part of our commitment, part of our commitment must be speaking up when Israel’s security is at risk and I don’t think any of us can be satisfied that America’s recent foreign policy has made Israel more secure. Hamas now controls Gaza; Hezbollah has tightened its grip on Southern Lebanon and it’s flexing its muscles in Beirut. Because of the War in Iraq, Iran which always posed a greater threat to Israel than Iraq is emboldened and poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States and Israel in the Middle East in a generation.
Iraq is unstable and Al Qaeda has stepped up its recruitment. Israel’s quest for peace with its neighbors has stalled despite the heavy burdens born by the Israeli people and America is more isolated in the region reducing our strength and jeopardizing Israel’s safety. The question is--how to move forward? There are those who would continue and intensify this failed status quo ignoring eight year of accumulated evidence that our foreign policy is dangerously flawed. And then there are those who would lay all the problems of the Middle East at the doorstep of Israel and its supporters as if the Israeli Palestinian conflict is the root of all trouble in the region. These voices blame the Middle East’s only democracy for the region’s extremism. They offer the false promise that abandoning a stalwart ally is somehow the path to strength. It is not; it has never been and it never will be.
Our alliance is based on shared interests and shared values. Those who threaten Israel threaten us; Israel has always faced these threats on the frontlines and I will bring to the White House an unshakable commitment to Israel’s security. That starts with insuring Israel’s qualitative military advantage. I will insure that Israel can defend itself from any threat from Gaza to Tehran. Defense cooperation, defense cooperation between the United States and Israel is a model of success and it must be deepened. As President I will implement a memorandum of understanding that provides $30 billion in assistance to Israel over the next decade, investments to Israel’s security that will not be tied to any other nation. First we must approve the foreign aid request for 2009 and I understand that Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid are ready to move on that. Going forward we can enhance our cooperation on missile defense; we should export military equipment to our ally Israel under the same guidelines as NATO and I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself in the United Nations and around the world.
Across the political spectrum Israelis understand that real security can only come through lasting peace and that is why we, as friends of Israel, must resolve to do all we can to help Israel and its neighbors to achieve it because a secure lasting peace is in Israel’s lasting interest. It is in America’s national interest and it is in the interest of the Palestinian people and the Arab world.
As President I will work to help Israel achieve the goal of two States--a Jewish State of Israel and a Palestinian State living side-by-side in peace and security and I won't wait--I won't wait until the waning days of my Presidency. I will take an active role and make a personal commitment to do all I can to advance the cause of peace from the start of my Administration.
Now the long road to peace requires Palestinian partners committed to making this journey. We must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel’s right to exist and abide by past agreements. There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations. That is why I opposed holding Elections in 2006 with Hamas on the ballot. The Israelis and the Palestinian Authority warned us at the time against holding these Elections but this Administration pressed ahead and the result is a Gaza controlled by Hamas with rockets raining down on Israel. The Palestinian people must understand that progress will not come through the false profits of extremism or the corrupt use of foreign aid. The United States and the international community must stand by Palestinians who are committed to cracking down on terror and carrying the burden of peace-making. I will --I will strongly urge Arab governments to take steps to normalize relations with Israel and to fulfill their responsibility to pressure extremists and provide real support for President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad.