President Obama declared today that the U.S. alliance with Israel is “eternal,” and that it will stand forever.
Is there any stronger statement that the president can make to assuage concerns among Israelis and his critics at home? I don’t think so.
Obama is making his first trip to Israel as president. He was greeted at Ben-Gurion Airport just outside Tel Aviv with a kind of man hug by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also recently won re-election in Israel. It’s been said that relations between the two heads of government are frosty. Indeed, Netanyahu demands a lot from U.S. presidents, as he should. His country is surrounded by eternal enemies, some of whom – namely Egypt and Jordan – have signed peace treaties with Israel. And not too many miles away, in Iran, the Islamist madmen who run that country are still vowing to destroy Israel. So, it’s understandable that Netanyahu would seek ironclad statements – and demonstrations – of support from the United States.
By my reading of the statements made by President Obama, he delivered such a statement today upon arrival in the Holy Land.
And that is to the president’s great credit.