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Last update - 02:02 05/06/2008 Obama to AIPAC: Committed to defending Israel from any threat By Haaretz Corespondent and Reuters , By Barak Ravid WASHINGTON - In his first foreign policy speech since he clinched the nomination of the Democratic Party for U.S. president on Tuesday, Barack Obama made a powerful address before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) yesterday, assuring Jewish voters that he would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear arms, and that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel. "Let me be clear," Obama said. "Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. 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 and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided," he said. Advertisement Obama alluded to a rumor campaign in his speech about his Muslim roots and his inclinations on the Middle East issues, telling his audience they may have received e-mails telling "tall tales" about him. "All I want to say is - let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama, because he sounds pretty frightening," joked Obama. The Republican candidate for the presidency, John McCain, has assailed Obama in recent weeks on his previous statements suggesting a willingness to talk directly to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Obama has since said he would not guarantee a meeting with the Iranian president. He went a step further in the AIPAC speech by laying down conditions for what he said would be "tough and principled diplomacy" with Tehran. "There will be careful preparation. We will open up lines of communication, build an agenda, coordinate closely with our allies, and evaluate the potential for progress," Obama said. "I have no interest in sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking. But as president of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leader at a time and place of my choosing, if and only if it can advance the interests of the United States." Obama said the danger from Iran in the Middle East was "grave." "I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon - everything," he said to a standing ovation. Regarding Hamas, Obama said that "we must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and abide by past agreements," echoing the demands of the Quartet. "There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations." McCain addressed the AIPAC conference on Monday, and promised to pursue tougher financial sanctions on Iran if he won the presidency. He also called for a worldwide divestment campaign against Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions. Obama also criticized McCain during his address to AIPAC, for what he said was the Republican Senator's support for staying in Iraq, rather than a plan for victory in there. "Keeping all of our troops tied down indefinitely in Iraq is not the way to weaken Iran, it is precisely what strengthened it," Obama told AIPAC. "McCain offers a false choice: stay the course in Iraq or cede the region to Iran. ... It is a policy for staying, not a policy for victory," Obama said, adding he favors a phased withdrawal of troops from Iraq. He said McCain refuses to understand or acknowledge the failure of the policy that he would continue. "He criticizes my willingness to use strong diplomacy, but offers only an alternate reality - one where the war in Iraq has somehow put Iran on its heels. The truth is the opposite. "Because of the war in Iraq," he said, "Iran, which always posed a greater threat to Israel than Iraq, is emboldened, and poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States and Israel in the Middle East in a generation." Iraq, Obama said, "is unstable, and al-Qaida has stepped up its recruitment." Israel's peace efforts, he said, "have stalled, and America is more isolated in the region, reducing our strength and jeopardizing Israel's safety." Also speaking at the AIPAC conference was Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, who has not yet conceded the race and voiced strong support for Israel in her own remarks. Obama and Clinton spoke yesterday when they ran into each other backstage at the AIPAC meeting, Obama told reporters. Asked if Clinton indicated she planned to concede, Obama replied, "It wasn't a detailed conversation." But he added that he is very confident of "how we're going to be able to bring the party together." The former first lady has yet conceded defeat, although she is courting an invitation from Obama to become his vice presidential running mate. Clinton followed Obama to the podium at AIPAC, delivering a strong defense of Israel - and also of her rival, saying to applause: "Let me be very clear. I know that Senator Obama will be a good friend to Israel." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terrorist donuts U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh. All the way to hell Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.

Read & React Abbas slams Obama for saying Jerusalem to stay Israel's undivided capital Responses: 213 German neo-Nazis: We're pro-Israel and we condemn anti-Semitism Responses: 114 Olmert: We're close to stopping Iran's nuclear program Responses: 83 U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh Responses: 81 Israeli killed in Negev mortar strike; Gazan girl dies in IAF attack Responses: 92 More Headlines 01:36 Olmert hints major Gaza operation is imminent 02:50 PM to Bush, Abbas: I'll weather legal storm, stay in office 20:50 Israeli killed in Negev mortar strike; Gazan girl, 4, dies in IAF attack 21:07 Ex-MK Bishara: Israel is 'foreign entity' on a Crusader-like path 23:45 Turkey: U.S. backs mediation bid for Syrian-Israeli peace 22:24 A rabbi, an imam and a priest discuss their 'painful verses' 20:23 Blair: Use lessons of Northern Ireland to solve Mideast conflict 22:20 AG Mazuz: No legal grounds yet for forcing Olmert to resign 01:48 Congress: Pentagon concealed useful Iranian intel from CIA in 2001 00:50 Israel lags behind Sudan, Pakistan in number of women in legislature 20:38 Vandals deface concentration camp memorial near Berlin 02:06 Obama's pro-Israel speech before AIPAC riles Arab press Previous Editions Select Day 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may

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