Itongadol.- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told American Jews that she would reaffirm the United States\’ "unbreakable bonds" with Israel, and promptly invite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to Washington should she win the White House.
Clinton, in an attempt not to be portrayed as an unreliable ally of Israel as US President Barack Obama has widely been viewed, made her remarks in an opinion column Wednesday in the American Jewish publication The Forward, ahead of Netanyahu\’s Monday visit to Washington.
Her statements are apparently meant to distance from criticism over Obama\’s position vis-a-vis Israel and his nuclear deal with Iran – however, Clinton has herself called Israelis "always cocky," has openly supported the nuclear deal, and said the "two state solution" is the only option for Israel.
The Democratic frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race wrote that the US-Israel relationship "transcends politics," and that the alliance "is and should always be a commitment that unites us, not a wedge that divides us."
"I will do everything I can to enhance our strategic partnership and strengthen America\’s security commitment to Israel, ensuring that it always has the qualitative military edge to defend itself," Clinton said. "I would also invite the Israeli prime minister to the White House in my first month in office."
She described Netanyahu\’s upcoming visit as "an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bonds of friendship and unity" between the two nations.
"I will never stop two state solution"
Clinton claimed that she has stood with Israel throughout her career, and rattled off her attempts to force peace talks in Israel from her four-year stint as Obama\’s first secretary of state as evidence.
"I convened Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas for three sessions of face-to-face peace talks, the last time that\’s ever happened," she said.
"And in 2012 I led negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza to stop Hamas rockets from raining down on Israeli homes and communities," she added, indicating negotiations with a genocidal terrorist organization. "As president, I will continue this fight."
She said she believed Washington had a duty to bring Israelis and Palestinian Arabs to the negotiating table, and "as president I will never stop working to advance the goal of two states for two peoples living in peace, security and dignity."
Clinton, who first visited Israel in 1981, said she has been appalled by the wave of violence in Israel, mentioning Arab stabbing and car attacks.
"It needs to stop immediately, and Israelis and Palestinians must move back toward the path of peaceful reconciliation," she said, placing Israelis first in her call for reconciliation – even as Arab terrorists conduct daily attacks in a terror wave.
Clinton also insisted she would remain committed to preventing Iran from "ever acquiring a nuclear weapon," and would confront growing efforts to isolate Israel internationally, including the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.