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U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Chicago on Friday. (AP)
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Last update - 00:00 02/03/2007
In AIPAC speech, Obama repeats support for Israel, peace talks
By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent
 

United States Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama reiterated his support for Israel on Friday, while at the same time calling on the U.S. to make a concerted effort to revive the peace process.

"Our job is to rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region," Obama said during a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Chicago. "Our job is to do more than lay out another road map."

"That effort begins with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: Our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy," he added. "That will always be my starting point."
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In what may have been a veiled reference to reports of American opposition to Israeli negotations with Syria, Obama said: "We should never seek to dictate what is best for the Israelis and their security interests. No Israeli prime minister should ever feel dragged to or blocked from the negotiating table by the United States."

The Illinois senator also called for continued American military assistance to Israel. "We must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs," he said.

Obama added that he was concerned about the Palestinian unity government accord.

Turning to Iran, the presidential hopeful called for direct engagement with the Islamic republic over its nuclear program.

"We need the United States to lead tough-minded diplomacy," he said. "This includes direct engagement with Iran similar to the meetings we conducted with the Soviets at the height of the Cold War."

"Tough-minded diplomacy would include real leverage through stronger sanctions," Obama continued. "It would mean more determined U.S diplomacy at the United Nations. It would mean a cooperative strategy with Gulf States who supply Iran with much of the energy resources it needs. It would mean full implementation of U.S. sanctions laws."

Obama blamed what he called the Administration's failed strategy in Iraq for strengthening the Iranian position, placing "Israel and other nations friendly to the United States in greater peril."

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  1.   Only a Schlemielberg Would Support this Guy 23:39  |  Topd Zuckerman 02/03/07
  2.   End AIPAC Power 23:54  |  Larry Saltzman 02/03/07
  3.   Politicians should not cater to AIPAC!!!! 00:18  |  Jonah Weiberg 03/03/07
  4.   #1 Topd Zuckaman Schlemielburg? 00:19  |  Maureen Ann 03/03/07
  5.   Obama Sings for his Supper 00:27  |  YesWeHaveNoBananas 03/03/07
  6.   The politics of the moment 00:32  |  Brod 03/03/07
  7.   Obama makes sense 00:41  |  Stan 03/03/07
  8.   Obama can save Israel 00:43  |  Roy 03/03/07
  9.   Obama is sucking up to The Lobby 00:43  |  Ali bin Abu ibn Abd 03/03/07
  10.   A Big Disappointment to the "Do Away With Israel" Crowd 01:12  |  Jane 03/03/07
  11.   Obama shouldn`t be kissing............ 01:16  |  Deborah 03/03/07
  12.   Saltzman, you need to get a grip.. 01:26  |  Hannah 03/03/07
  13.   to #2, 8-Roy and 9 just admit that u don`t want Israel to be.. 01:38  |  Tom 03/03/07
  14.   Foriegn vs Domestic policy 01:39  |  jacob 03/03/07
  15.   No normal person exept Liberals Jews will vote for Obama 01:46  |  Tom 03/03/07
  16.   Who can and who can`t define Democracy? 01:47  |  Canadian 03/03/07
  17.   JUST FOR THE VOTE 01:48  |  Mary 03/03/07
  18.   I agree 100% with Mr. Weiberg 02:07  |  Ahmad 03/03/07
  19.   This guy is going to blow it simply by opening his big mouth 02:10  |  Adam 03/03/07
  20.   Most Americans support Israel 02:21  |  ben 03/03/07
  21.   AIPAC speech by Senator Obama 02:54  |  John Campo 03/03/07
  22.   #8 roy...palestinians prosperous? 02:56  |  stan 03/03/07
  23.   Obama full of poo....good ! 02:58  |  El Haq 03/03/07
  24.   Obama at AIPAC 03:01  |  judith markoff hanse 03/03/07
  25.   Obama 03:06  |  jay 03/03/07
  26.   Can AIPAC "buy" Obama? 03:12  |  Bill 03/03/07
  27.   What Could Obama Say To These Fanatics? 03:45  |  chet 03/03/07
  28.   I was there 03:56  |  Jimbo 03/03/07
  29.   Since we believe in Rudi Giuliani why should trust you? 04:18  |  e.m 03/03/07
  30.   # 25 Classic New Yorker Logic 04:40  |  Tony Anthony 03/03/07
  31.   Shuffling the deck.... 04:46  |  Blogowitz 03/03/07
  32.   # 7 Obama 04:47  |  Lynn 03/03/07
  33.   A Possible Self-haters Nightmare 04:48  |  Tony Anthony 03/03/07
  34.   # 28: Ben Gurion on sacrificing Jewish children 05:24  |  Regev 03/03/07
  35.   Slurp, slurp. 05:56  |  Colin Wright 03/03/07
  36.   US Far left wants to DESTROY Israel 06:06  |  Dr Dave 03/03/07
  37.   Regev,#34,insignificant compared to arabs murdering arabs 06:20  |  Voice of Reason 03/03/07
  38.   Regev 06:44  |  Ahmad 03/03/07
  39.   Great, now what did Obama say in Arabic? 06:50  |  Gili 03/03/07
  40.   Hiding Intentions 06:57  |  Bryan 03/03/07
  41.   #22 Stan 07:00  |  Ahmad 03/03/07
  42.   It`s all a game 07:01  |  Austin 03/03/07
  43.   Comment on "Tough Minded" 07:06  |  DWOLF 03/03/07
  44.   Hey Obama! 08:03  |  Danite 03/03/07
  45.   Actually... 08:38  |  Yosemite 03/03/07
  46.   Ahmad 08:42  |  Wall a Wall 03/03/07
  47.   El Haq 08:48  |  Skepto 03/03/07
  48.   Power Of The Lobby 08:58  |  Needham 03/03/07
  49.   CAMPO, SALTZMAN, WEIBERG & THE YESWEHAVENO, WHAT?? 09:44  |  Josue 03/03/07
  50.   You guys try and figure out who is best for Israel! 10:07  |  Denton 03/03/07
  51.   Rudy Giuliani 10:49  |  Steve 03/03/07
  52.   Zukerman, What do you want the man to say? 11:48  |  gus 03/03/07
  53.   #4 the Bathurst belle. IF THE CAP FITS WEAR IT 11:49  |  Ari ben Yisrael 03/03/07
  54.   another good joke by obama 12:20  |  VIPER 03/03/07
  55.   Hooray for AIPAC. The usual afraid to be Jewish 12:43  |  Steve 03/03/07
  56.   If you sleep with the dogs, don`t complain 12:48  |  Andreas 03/03/07
  57.   JUST FOR THE VOTE # 2 13:50  |  Mary 03/03/07
  58.   TIME FOR ISRAELIS 2B allowed to vote in US???? 14:07  |  Marco 03/03/07
  59.   OBAMA WILL BE A PRESIDENT 14:47  |  indrajaya 03/03/07
  60.   Ethiopian Jews remind you! 14:57  |  Ethiopian Jew 03/03/07
  61.   Maureen 15:01  |  Realistic 03/03/07
  62.   Andreas 15:06  |  Troll 03/03/07
  63.   india? 15:12  |  dani 03/03/07
  64.   Indrajaya 15:32  |  Yosemite 03/03/07
  65.   Obama, another AIPAC brown-noser 16:13  |  Ahmad 03/03/07
  66.   To #21 JOHN CAMPO 16:13  |  Just Curious 03/03/07
  67.   To #3 16:23  |  Realist 03/03/07
  68.   Obama was raised by Radical Muslims 16:31  |  Don 03/03/07
  69.   canadian education is compulsary 16:43  |  bev 03/03/07
  70.   AIPAC 16:48  |  Abe 03/03/07
  71.   AIPAC 16:50  |  Abe 03/03/07
  72.   re: Don, it`s a funny thing... 17:03  |  Robert P. 03/03/07
  73.   Don 17:05  |  Moose 03/03/07
  74.   abe 17:10  |  bev 03/03/07
  75.   larry saltzman 17:12  |  bev 03/03/07
  76.   ethopian jew 17:14  |  bev 03/03/07
  77.   Untrue urban legends re: Obama 17:30  |  Julie 03/03/07
  78.   ethopian jew 18:46  |  Rose 03/03/07
  79.   Skepto 19:57  |  El Haq 03/03/07
  80.   To expand 21:11  |  El Haq 03/03/07
  81.   to urban legends on Obama`s muslim background 21:31  |  Anubhav 03/03/07
  82.   Ethiopian Jew ( my foot) 21:55  |  traveler 03/03/07
  83.   El Hak @23 22:03  |  curious 03/03/07
  84.   Ethiopian Jew 22:11  |  Realistic 03/03/07
  85.   This Is A Better Urban Legend 22:14  |  Yosemite 03/03/07
  86.   LEARN ENGLSH AND VOTE 22:15  |  TOBIA 03/03/07
  87.   nothing new.usual pilgrimage by presendential candidates to AIPAC 22:16  |  JACKAL 03/03/07
  88.   Ye olde bad Palestinian Mother as the "reason" for conflict 22:30  |  debbie gordon 03/03/07
  89.   Obama 22:42  |  From the Moon 03/03/07
  90.   #60 Ethipian Jew 23:47  |  ballistic 03/03/07
  91.   #61 Realistic Der! Australia not American territory? 23:48  |  Maureen Ann 03/03/07
  92.   # 85 Mauren Ann and (secret ) bases 00:32  |  ChanahS 04/03/07
  93.   #81 Realistic re Ethiopian Jew 01:11  |  ballistic 04/03/07
  94.   Maureen Ann 02:06  |  Lynn 04/03/07
  95.   Indrajaya 02:10  |  Lynn 04/03/07
  96.   #85 Moron Ann 02:19  |  ALP man 04/03/07
  97.   Robert P from Texas 02:25  |  Lynn 04/03/07
  98.   ballistic 04:16  |  Lynn 04/03/07
  99.   Terry Mathis 07:36  |  Terry Mathis 04/03/07
  100.   AIPAC speech 22:10  |  J Connell 04/03/07
  101.   Long live AIPAC 04:25  |  Jaim 05/03/07
  102.   Obama`s support of Israel 19:41  |  Pat Blair 22/06/07
  103.   aipac 21:02  |  leila 15/02/08
  104.   LIGHTNING 12:52  |  MORT 05/06/08
  105.   When will americans learn 00:02  |  Mini-Cooper 21/10/08
  106.   Give it a rest 00:59  |  Yanna 23/10/08
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