Obama: Israel-United States Bond Is 'Unbreakable'

WASHINGTON – Seeking to reassure Jewish donors amid questions over his support for Israel, President Barack Obama pledged Monday that his administration would "devote all of its creative powers" to trying to bring about Mideast peace.
Obama made the comments at a high-dollar fundraiser at a Washington hotel hosted by Americans in Support of a Strong U.S.-Israel Relationship.

The appearance came a month after he clashed publicly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the road to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That handed ammunition to Republican presidential hopefuls who accused Obama of insufficient support for Israel.

Obama assured donors that his goals are the same as theirs -- a secure Jewish state living in peace with its neighbors -- even if there might be "tactical disagreements" along the way.

Even at a time of tumult in the Middle East, Obama said, "one inviolable principle will be that the United States and Israel will always be stalwart allies and friends." But with the peace process badly stalled and no clear way forward, Obama also said the U.S. and Israel had to look at the situation with "fresh eyes."

Nevertheless, Bloomberg News reports that the president characterized the bond between the two countries as "unbreakable,” adding that "Israel’s security will always be at the top tier of considerations of how America manages its foreign policy."

Obama's comments came at the first of two fundraisers for his Obama Victory Fund Monday night. The sold-out dinner attracted about 80 people paying for tickets between $25,000 and $35,800.

Obama also was attending a DNC Mid-Atlantic Finance Committee dinner later Monday. About 100 people were expected to attend, paying between $10,000 and $35,800.

The president has been featured at a string of recent fundraisers. He attended three in Miami and one in Puerto Rico last week. He heads for New York later this week where he will attend two more events with donors.

 

 

Comments

[European1919]

05:07 AM on 06/28/2011

Just a little indication how far the USA are up Israels poohchute.
Excerpt from:

DFARS252.212-7000 Offeror Representations And Certifications-Commercial Items. (Revised January 15th, 2009)

(b) Certification. By submitting this offer, the Offeror, if a foreign person, company or entity, certifies that it -
(1) Does not comply with the Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel;

Foreign companies need to sign this if they want to tender an offer for a project involving the US military.

[breakfast]

05:07 PM on 06/23/2011

The bond between Israel and the U.S. may be unbreakable for the time being, but I think (hope) it is highly unlikely that future generations of Americans are going to continue to buy into the propaganda and allow our "Israel, right or wrong" policy to remain the dominant influence that it is now on our foreign affairs. Plus, Israel is on such a self-destructive path that the question may soon become moot.

[ProofRequired]

02:44 PM on 06/23/2011

The United States bond with Israel is almost unbreakable but not because Christian America needs the bible to be right. It's because both giants of the world have secular governments, for the most part, and deal with reason and sense.

[Consequence]

01:50 PM on 06/23/2011

"The Israel-United States Bond is Unbreakable"

...no matter how hard he tries...

[D-Barger]

11:45 AM on 06/23/2011

So Israel is important because of some bible prophecy that it could fulfill, legitimizing Christian mythology?

[Consequence]

01:55 PM on 06/23/2011

The only 'mythology' we are dealing with is the idea that Obama gives a cr*p about Israel

[farmilyman]

02:09 AM on 06/23/2011

Why is it unbreakable??

[Consequence]

01:54 PM on 06/23/2011

Because he needs the Jewish vote for re-election.

[joeinvt]

03:37 PM on 06/23/2011

Jews represent about 2% of the US population. They do vote overwhelmingly for Democrats and close to 80% favor a two-state solution. So more than losing a small % of a small number of votes must be involved, no?

[mulegino]

06:11 PM on 06/22/2011

Nibblin' on matzah
Watchin' the sun bake
All of those Arabs swimming in oil
Strummin' my uzi
Just begging to use it
Smell those kreplock they're beginnin' to boil

Blasting away again in Apartheidville
Manning a checkpoint and ordering "halt!";
Some people claim that there's a settler to blame
But I know it's never our fault

Can't tell the reason
We've here all season
Nothin' to show but this brand new tattoo
But she's a real beauty
A Ukrainian cutie
How it got here I haven't a clue

Blasting away again in Apartheidville
Manning a checkpoint and ordering "halt!";
Some people claim that there's a settler to blame
But I know it's never our fault

[Just-a-Guy]

03:14 PM on 06/22/2011

I might just make this quote "one inviolable principle will be that the United States and Israel will always be stalwart allies and friends." my new micro-bio.

Well stated Mr. President. Hopefully it isn't just window-dressing.

Israel is our ally. Hamas, who the Palestinean people elected to represent them, is not.

[SpoonieLuv]

07:29 PM on 06/22/2011

The Israeli people have elected an organization whose politics are eerily similar to Hamas'. The Israeli people may be our nominal allies, but their decision to elect the Likud to power must be met with sanctions until they become more amenable to peace.

[Just-a-Guy]

01:13 PM on 06/23/2011

They're not 'nominal allies'. According to our Commander-in-Chief they are 'stalwart allies'. beyond that 'we will always be friends'.

Israel has taken a hardline because they are forced to. They live under constant threat, and they deal with those threats accordingly...and effectively.

[hungryaardvark]

02:41 PM on 06/22/2011

Birds of a feather stick together. Same apparently goes for state sponsors of terrorism.
Or is the link tied to bilateral election support and indirect, masked campaign contributions?

[charlietuna11]

01:13 PM on 06/22/2011

i will repeat this proverb again., WHEN YOU HAVE TWO GUESTS IN YOUR HOME AND HONOR ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, YOU LOSE THE RESPECT OF BOTH.. the prez has no idea why the palastinians have lost their faith in him. the israelis can do anything they choose because OBAMA has already advised them of the unbreakable bond. in the world of middle east negotiations, they know that YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU DESERVE, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEGOTIATE. OUR PRESIDENT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE.

[mulegino]

12:12 PM on 06/22/2011

The only thing "unbreakable" is the hold that Apartheidville has on the unmentionables of most members of Congress and a good part of the Executive. Subornation, espionage, and chantaje, for the moment, a formidable combination.

[Wisdo]

09:56 AM on 06/22/2011

Unbreakable eh?

Even when things degenerate into pure fascism, as they appear to be doing - with an increasingly right-wing generation of Israelis willing to expel its own arab population in the name of Jewish supremacy, even as loyalty oaths to one religion are being foisted on those not of that religion within Israel, even as Netanyahu warns of ultraviolent Israeli reaction to Palestinian requests for recognition of statehood and self determination as a people, even as the decades long military occupation of Palestinian land grows more brutal, takes a greater toll on human life and threatens to inflame the whole region - even then - Obama - Americas most liberal president for a generation (supposedly) advocates unequivocal backing of Israeli 'security' (and Palestinian security be damned) beyond all other considerations - material, moral, legal?

Then god help us, because no-one else will.

[Macready]

11:22 AM on 06/22/2011

1million xs fanned Wisdo . . . ditto . . . .

[Scottsman]

12:36 PM on 06/22/2011

The powers in Israel have become the very monster that hunted them in WWII. How easily we forget.

[WorldEdition]

06:02 AM on 06/22/2011

Israelis loath Thomas Jefferson.

Ask an Israeli why. He is burn in effigy and is a great regret and name they don't want to hear, especially in a political debate. He is given short shrift in any histories or books in Israel. Blacked out.

[Teacher 15]

02:11 PM on 06/22/2011

I hope HP readers recognize this ludicrous comment for what it is.

[WorldEdition]

03:01 PM on 06/22/2011

The comment is the truth.

Bring up TJ in a discussion with an Israeli or a debate. Visibly uncomfortible and lots of BUTS. Israel rejects everything TJ stood for, Virginia statute of religion freedom, separation of church and state, all the big bills of right. Israel is a theocracy, not a democracy. As such, TJ is not one of the democracy heros in Israel, he's a direct threat.

These are the facts. Spin all you want.

[patience1]

11:45 PM on 06/21/2011

When you deal with a spoil brat you have to show 'Tough love' to straight them up! Not to let them do whatever their wants and let them get away with it. This is just 'a neverending story'

[celtic]

07:35 AM on 06/22/2011

I agree, and I think Netanyahu straightened out Obama pretty well in his public lecture to him.

[Wisdo]

09:58 AM on 06/22/2011

Because Obama - and by extension the 350 million Americans he represents are "spoiled brats"?

Who gives aid to whom?

What does Israel have that america wants or needs?

[patience1]

10:48 AM on 06/22/2011

The spoiled brat one is Israel indeed! Netanyahu acts like a spoiled brat and still get standing ovation from the congress.

[Macready]

11:25 AM on 06/22/2011

those 29 standing ovations were sick making . . . our congress insulted not only the Prez but the Constitution, and the American people .. . they should push off and run for election in the Knesset but then israel won't want them because they won't be any use to israel there . . .

[mulegino]

11:13 PM on 06/21/2011

Like the Ancient Mariner and the Albatross, an "unbreakable bond"?

Country and its curse may both fall "like lead into the sea."

By a thousand Lilluputian cords, Gulliver was tied down;

America, by a meretricious Congress and a compromised Presidency;

Only when justice is served, and truth abound,

Can it be both proud and free.

Si monumentem requiris, there's Palestine; just look around.

[MelissaGoldman]

11:43 PM on 06/21/2011

ok, be honest--how many doses have you missed?

[mulegino]

12:04 AM on 06/22/2011

Are you referring to your trademark Lunesta? It's only 9:03 p.m. on the Pacific Coast, unlike the settlements, where, no doubt, they use Nodoze.