Ο Ομπάμα και το Ισραήλ

Παραθέτω αποσπάσματα από τον λόγο που εκφώνησε ο Μπάρακ Ομπάμα κατά το Συνέδριο Αμερικανο-Ισραηλίτικων σχέσεων (AIPAC) στις 4 Ιουνίου 2008. Δεν χρειάζεται να σχολιαστούν τα παρακάτω -επιβεβαιώνονται από όσα συμβαίνουν αυτή τη στιγμή στη Γάζα.
Σήμερα ορκίζεται ο επόμενος Πρόεδρος των ΗΠΑ. Δυστυχώς, δεν φαίνεται να διαφέρει από τον προηγούμενο παρά τις προσδοκίες...

"[...] the bond between the United States and Israel is unbreakable today, unbreakable tomorrow--unbreakable forever."

"We know that the establishment of Israel was just and necessary, rooted in centuries of struggle and decades of patient work, but 60 years later we know that we cannot relent, we cannot yield, and as President I will never compromise when it comes to Israel’s security."

"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."

"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."

"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 Palestinian people must understand that progress will not come through the false profits of extremism or the corrupt use of foreign aid."

"Egypt must cut-off the smuggling of weapons in the Gaza."

"Israel’s security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable; the Palestinians need a State--the Palestinians need a State that is contiguous and cohesive and that allows them to prosper, but any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel’s identity as a Jewish State with secure, recognized, defensible borders. And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided."

"Syria continues its support for terror and meddling in Lebanon and Syria has taken dangerous steps in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction which is why Israeli action was entirely justified to end that threat."

"[...] as President I will do whatever I can to help Israel succeed in these negotiations and success will require the full enforcement of Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon and a stop to Syria’s support for terror. It is time for this reckless behavior to come to an end."

"The Iranian regime supports violent extremists and challenges us across the region. It pursues a nuclear capability that could spark a dangerous arms race and raise the prospect of a transfer of nuclear know-how to terrorists. Its President denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel off the map."

"The danger from Iran is grave; it is real; and my goal will be to eliminate this threat. "

"And if we want real leverage over Iran we must free ourselves from the tyranny of oil."

"The price--the price of a barrel of oil is one of the most dangerous weapons in the world. Petro dollars paid for weapons that killed American troops and Israeli citizens and the Bush Administration’s policies have driven up the price of oil while its energy policy has made us more dependent on foreign oil and gas."

"It is time for the United States to take real steps to end our addiction to oil and we can join Israel building on last year’s US Israeli Energy Cooperation Act to deepen our partnership in developing alternative sources of energy."

"Do not be confused. Sometimes there are no alternatives to confrontation but that only makes diplomacy more important."