Obama administration seeks progress on two-state solution

March 26, 2012 Leave a comment

By Ari Bildner, Staff Writer

Washington, Mar. 26 – Two top Obama administration officials reaffirmed Monday current U.S.-Israel ties  while emphasizing the need for more progress on a two-state solution.

“We have a lot of work ahead, but peace is the long-term interest of Israeli and the Palestinian people,” Obama Senior Advisor Jarrett said.

Jarrett and Tony Blinken,  Vice President Biden’s national security advisor, spoke to the national conference of J Street, an organization founded in 2009 that advocates for a two-state solution and has been critical of the current Israeli government.

Jarrett reiterated to around 2,500 delegates at the three-day convention that Obama has an “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security, but said that efforts toward a two-state solution must be reenergized.

Blinken assured the crowd that the administration has worked behind the scenes to restart peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel even as the process appears to be frozen in public.

“There is lot of misinformation,” he said. “No administration and president has done as much with Israel and for Israel’s security.”

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Excerpts on Iran from Obama and Cameron Press Conference

March 15, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Hamburg, March 15 – Below are excerpts from “Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom in a Joint Press Conference” in the Rose Garden on March 14. The two leaders spoke about many issues including Iran.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: We also discussed the continuing threat posed by Iran’s failure to meet its international obligations.  On this we are fully united.  We are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.  We believe there is still time and space to pursue a diplomatic solution, and we’re going to keep coordinating closely with our P5-plus-1 partners.  At the same time, we’re going to keep up the pressure, with the strongest U.S. sanctions to date and the European Union preparing to impose an embargo on Iranian oil.  Tehran must understand that it cannot escape or evade the choice before it — meet your international obligations or face the consequences.

PRIME MINISTER CAMERON: We’ve discussed Iran’s nuclear program.  The President’s tough, reasonable approach has united the world behind unprecedented sanctions pressure on Iran.  And Britain has played a leading role in helping to deliver an EU-wide oil embargo.  Alongside the financial sanctions being led by America, this embargo is dramatically increasing the pressure on the regime. Now, we are serious about the talks that are set to resume, but the regime has to meet its international obligations.  If it refuses to do so, then Britain and America, along with our international partners, will continue to increase the political and economic pressure to achieve a peaceful outcome to this crisis.  The President and I have said nothing is off the table. That is essential for the safety of the region and the wider world.

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Sarkozy promises to visit Israel, push Middle East peace if re-elected

March 7, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Paris, March 7 – Following President Obama’s and the Republican presidential candidates’ addresses to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference, France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy promised on Tuesday if he is re-elected, his second foreign visit would be to Israel and the Palestinian territories to promote a European peace initiative.

“I hope that France, and behind France all of Europe, take the initiative so that 2012 can be the year of peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” Sarkozy said during a television interview with ”Des paroles et des actes” on his re-election campaign, per AFP.

Given the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, Sarkozy said the United States may not be able to play its usual role in the Middle East peace process negotiations right now.

“There is also a presidential election in the United States,” he said. “President Obama, who is a very great president, won’t take the initiative before he’s re-elected – and I hope he will be – but there’s a place for France and a place for Europe.”

France has pushed for both sides to begin direct talks on a two-state solution. Direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have been on hold since late September 2010.

Filed under Barack Obama, GOP Primary, Israel Tagged with , , , ,

Obama addresses Middle East, Israel comments in first news conference of 2012

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

By Jennifer Packer and Ashley Gold

Washington, March 6 – President Barack Obama today gave his first news conference of 2012. Following are excerpts highlighting Obama’s comments about the Middle East:

Question: …On Iran on Sunday Romney went so far as to say if you were re-elected Iran will get a bomb and the world will change. How do you respond?

What we’ve been able to do over the last few is years is mobilize unprecedented crippling sanctions on Iran. Iran is feeling the bite of these sanctions in a substantial way. The world is unified, Iran is politically isolated. What we have said is we won’t countenance Iran getting a nuclear weapon. My policy is not containment; my policy is not letting them get a nuclear weapon.

Because if they get one that could trigger an arms race in the region, it would undermine our non proliferation goals, it could potentially fall into the arms of terrorists. We’ve been in close consultation with all of our allies including Israel in moving this strategy forward. At this stage it is my belief that we have a window of opportunity where this can still be resolved diplomatically. That’s not just my view, it’s the view of our top intelligence officials, and it’s the view of top Israeli intelligence officials.

As a consequence we’re going to continue to apply the pressure even as we provide a door for the Iranian regime to walk through where they could rejoin the nations by giving assurances to the international community that they’re meeting their obligations and they are not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

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GOP Hopefuls: Stronger Stand on Iran Needed

March 6, 2012 1 Comment

By Ari Bildner, Staff Writer

Washington, March 6 – On the day of a pivotal primary election, three Republican presidential candidates re-emphasized on Tuesday their commitment to stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and promised to go further than President Barack Obama in standing with Israel on the issue.

“In a Romney administration there will be no gap between our leaders,” former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said. “I will bring the current policy of procrastination toward Iran to an end.”

Romney, former Sen. Rick Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich were speaking to the 14,000-plus delegates at the policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Santorum addressed the convention in person, while Romney and Gingrich appeared via webcam from the campaign trail on “Super Tuesday,” when 10 states hold their Republican primaries.

“While I cannot be with you, I stand with you,” Romney told the more than 13,000 pro-Israel activists attending the session. “I share your commitment to a strong and secure Israel. And I salute your tireless work to strengthen our alliance.”

“A nuclear Iran is not only a problem for Israel,” Romney said. “It is also a problem for America and the entire world.”

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Panetta: Israel relationship strong and growing

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

By Ashley Gold, Staff Writer

Washington, March 6 – The “security bonds” between the United States and Israel will continue to expand, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told 13,000 attendees at AIPAC Tuesday morning.

“I feel that America’s relationship with Israel is stronger than at any other time of my experience in government,” said Panetta, the first defense secretary to address AIPAC in more than 20 years. “Let me assure you that the security bonds will only grow as America goes through a historic turning point after a decade of war.”

“I come here as secretary of defense, but also as a lifelong friend to Israel,” Panetta said.

Sitting down with Howard Kohr and Lee Rosenberg of AIPAC a few weeks ago, Panetta was briefed on how they saw the future of Israel. Together, they discussed ways to strengthen and enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship.

“We must never rest easy. Too many lives have been lost. Too much blood has been spilled,” Panetta said.

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Gingrich: Iran “red line is now”

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, March 6 – In an address to more than 13,000 Israel activists, Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said the “red line is now” regarding Iran.

“As president, on my first day, I would undermine and replace the Iranian regime by any means necessary,” Gingrich said during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference via satellite Tuesday morning. “We need a fundamental reassessment of our understanding of radical Islam.”

The former House Speaker also repeated his belief Israel would not have to give advance warning to a Gingrich administration if the prime minister felt the need to take military actions against Iran.

“I would require no advance notice to understand why I would support the rights of Israel to survive in a dangerous world,” Gingrich said.

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Romney: “In Israel, geography is security”

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, March 6 – Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney pledged his support to defend Israel’s security against a multitide of threats.

“While I cannot be with you, I stand with you,” he told more than 13,000 Israel activists during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference via satellite Tuesday morning. “I share your commitment to a strong and secure Israel. And I salute your tireless work to strengthen our alliance.”

The former Massachusetts governor described his time in Israel, viewing the country by land and by air. “I have seen its narrow waist,” he said. “I would never call for a return to the ’67 lines because I understand that in Israel, geography is security.”

“I have studied the writings and speeches of the jihadists,” Romney continued. “They argue for a one-state solution—one all-dominating radical Islamist state, that is. Their objective is not freedom, not prosperity, not a Palestinian state, but the destruction of Israel. And negotiating and placating such jihadists will never, ever yield peace in the Middle East.”

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Santorum: Iran an “existential threat to freedom-loving people”

March 6, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director 

Washington, March 6 – Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum took a day off from the campaign trail on the day of Super Tuesday to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in person.

“I wanted to come off the campaign trail to come here,” he told the 13,000-plus Israel activists. “The threats facing America and her ally Israel warrant the personal attention of presidential candidates.”

The former Pennsylvania senator said Iran is not an existential threat just to Israel, but is an “existential threat to freedom-loving people throughout the world.” He called for a clear ultimatum to the Iranian government to stop production and allow for inspection of all facilities now.

While the speech focused primarily on Iran, Santorum closed his speech by saying the U.S. needs to become energy independent and not rely on the Middle East for oil. He asked the audience to ensure the “radical environmental movement” in the U.S. does not stop domestic oil and gas production.

Filed under GOP Primary, Iran, Israel, Rick Santorum Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Pelosi reaffirms support for Israel, need to stop Iran

March 5, 2012 2 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum and Ashley Gold

Nancy Pelosi Addressing AIPAC Conference

Nancy Pelosi Addressing AIPAC Conference

Washington, March 5 – Continuing a pattern at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said a nuclear-armed Iran is not only a threat to Israel but also to America and the world.

“It is time for Iran to abandon its reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons.”

Pelosi praised the Obama administration for pushing sanctions through the United Nations, saying the administration has made it clear that it stands with Israel.

Her address to the more than 13,000 AIPAC attendees following Sen. Mitch McConnell. “Our presence tonight confirms our support for Israel is bipartisan.”

“We must continue to fight for the day that Israel’s existence is a fact recognized by every nation on the earth,” she added.

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