there's a sense of insecurity in this country. this traditional stuff, denigration of the manufacturing base and lack of real wage increases. talk about culture. what it means today. and i think we're losing a little bit of that. more people are insecure and the definitions are more unclear than they have been and then obviously the issue of defense -- >> can you just expand on that about to definition -- >> when the president makes fun of -- there was a speech -- republicans want to build another southern border. everybody laughed. border security is serious and we're trying to struggle with this issue of keeping our foundation keeping our history

and keeping what we're about, which is welcoming people from all over the world and assimilating them into this unique experiment in pluralism and democracy. but you don't do that by encouraging illegal behavior. you don't do that by degrading sovereignty. and you don't do that by strokes of the pen in a quiet office. that is not leadership. and then for the third part national defense and what we talked about here. people are confused right now. they're concerned. we have very strong isolationist trend in this country post iran, post iraq, post afghanistan and people have said enough. we're going withdraw and exit stage left. and when good guys leave bad

guys fill the vacuum. you see that in china and the ukrainian and the middle east and all over the world and that is not good for their future. so it's a lot more than -- i kempt my campaign promise we're out another there. what we're out of there is a semi colon not a period and history doesn't stop. i think there's a sense of frustration, confusion and insecurity in the country, and i'm trying to figure out how deep that is. [inaudible] >> did i say that? >> i'm asking you. >> what he said about conflict and the threat of isis is pret pretty mainstream. when i read -- i have been very clear -- i don't talk ever about any other republicans. a lot of them are my friends, a

lot of them very successful governors, some senators. so i really -- i'm hesitant to even ask the question but i'll say from what i've seen of his recent statements much more mainstream republican when it comes to our goals in the world and the fact that you just can't ignore the bad guys. you just can't because you'll pay a price. [inaudible] >> recently there's been more -- >> a lot of it is either other republicans are considering running -- more name recognition. people know jeb bush, rand paul, these names a lot more. realistically do you think there's way you can break through that and find a path and how do you try to do that? >> these. this.

i'll say that i'm not going to degrade the importance or minimize the importance of money in politics, but i will say that social media given the fact that there are so many other ways to reach people today money is not as important as it was 10, 20 years ago. just not. it's still important, and the numbers from super pacs but we're not there and i'm not going to allow the calendar to rush me. i'm pretty confident in my ability to campaign engage and i have a record and a history, obviously, as people will look at but for now it's truly trying to figure out whether my style, fits here, now. >> thank you. >> you're welcome.

[inaudible] >> sure, sure. hang on. >> thanks for having me. [inaudible] >> free trader. trade with the world. [inaudible] >> i think there's a dangerous trend, an isolationist trend weapon need to engage, not just trade -- i'm not against foreign aid, but it needs to make sense. taxpayer has a legitimate interest here as well. i'm not one of the

republicans -- [inaudible] >> thank you. >> nice to see you. >> thanks for welcoming me. [inaudible] >> you heard what i did in maryland. i think the problem -- i meant to talk about this -- the problem is we have a good idea, a bill and then -- [inaudible] -- we need to protect our turf and we really fail to measure -- you heard the gentleman back there -- we need to measure who the government -- we tend not to do that and we tend to forget what some of the worst

predictions -- medicare, for example. going to cost this amount. $36 billion under what cbo projected. it works. and we save money. and we don't sometimes -- that's an example for -- because we use the -- i think too often -- [inaudible] ...

[laughter] [indiscernible] my cabinet has lobbied me. [indiscernible] people with disabilities today given technology, can really participate." >> do you have plans to combat the rising cost of college education for this generation?

>> yes. [laughter] [indiscernible] one of my great frustrations in life is to see these tuition increases each year. [indiscernible] >> [inaudible] >> i thought it was a bad idea. [indiscernible] [indiscernible]

all right, you. troublemaker. [laughter] good to see you. [indiscernible] it's good to see you. thanks for coming. >> [indiscernible] [laughter] [indiscernible] >> [indiscernible]

>> you take out major players. it impacts to aspects of the race. >> why did you decide to get back in? >> the reason i wrote the book. it comes from a lot of bad messaging in washington dc. it is a minimal as asian --

minimization of what the country is about. [indiscernible] when the messaging from the president is lack of respect for sovereignty entrepreneurialism -- [indiscernible] >> [inaudible] >> my big topic? criminal justice reform. [indiscernible] it's good to see you. good to see you. >> where do you see small colleges in the next five years?

>> [indiscernible] my kids go to school around the corner. my wife's college roommate -- [indiscernible] >> ok. wow. [indiscernible] >> are you that good? [inaudible] >> he is taking pictures. that is fine. >> just you two together, do you mind? than we've got to roll unfortunately.

[indiscernible] >> i've got to get you to manchester and a half hour. >> i will take one, too. [indiscernible] [indiscernible]

[indiscernible] [indiscernible] >> the nuclear deal the u.s. is negotiable iran is a threat to israel he security. he spoke at the public affairs

committee conference in washington. that is next on c-span it. then we will hear from susan rice who addressed the same meeting. on washington journal, we will get a preview of the prime minister's speech to congress today. >> book tv and american history tv go on the road to u.s. cities. this week we go to galveston, texas. >> the rising tide drew them. we even had a huge billion.

as the storm increased, these structures were turned into matchsticks. the storm struck galveston september 8, 1900. the storm began before noon and increased this hurricane was and still is the deadliest natural event in the history of the united states. >> watch all of our events from galveston at noon.

remarks from benjamin netanyahu who is in washington this week to express concerns about the ongoing nuclear talks with iran. he spoke at the american israel public affairs committee meeting.

>> anyone here from california? florida? new york? these are the easy ones. how about colorado? indiana? montana? texas? you are here in record numbers. you are here from coast to coast. from every part of this great land. you are here any critical time. you are here to tell the world

that reports of the demise of the israeli u.s. relations is not only premature, they are just wrong. because of you we are going to get stronger in the coming years. thank you to all of the leaders of aipac for your tireless work.

i want to thank most especially members of congress, democrats and republicans. i appreciate your support for israel year-end, year out. you have our boundless gratitude. israel never forgets its friends. the czechoslovakian people have been steadfast friends of israel.

that was one of the rifles given to us by your people in our time of need. thank you for being here today. [applause] also here, our two great friends of israel. the former prime minister of spain. and former canadian foreign minister john baird. thank you both for your unwavering support.

you are true champions of israel, and you are true champions of the truth. [applause] i also want to recognize u.s. ambassador to israel dan schapiro for your friendship and for the great job you are doing representing the united states and the state of israel. [applause] i want to recognize that two rons. i want to thank him for helping us in a very difficult for him.

i want to recognize the other ron, a man who knows how to take each, israel's ambassador to the u.s., ron dermer. [applause] ron, i could not be prouder to have you representing israel in washington. and finally, i want to recognize my wife, sarah, whose courage in the face of adversity is an inspiration to me. [applause]

sarah divides her time as a child psychologist, as a loving mother, and the public duties of the wife of the prime minister. sarah, i am so proud to have you here with me today, to have you at my side always. my friends, i bring greetings to you from jerusalem, our eternal, undivided capital. [applause] i also bring to you, news that you may not have heard. i will be speaking in congress tomorrow.

[applause] you know, never has so much been written about a speech that has not been given. i will not speak today about the content of that speech. but, i do want to say a few words about the purpose of that speech. first, let me clarify. what is not the purpose of the speech. my speech is not intended to show disrespect to president obama or the esteemed office he holds. i have great respect for both. [applause]

i deeply appreciate all that the president has done for us. security cooperation intelligence, supporting the u.n., and things that i cannot divulge because it remains in the realm of the confidence is capped between an american president and an israeli prime minister. i am deeply grateful for the support, and so should you be. [applause] my speech is also not intended to inject israel into the

american partisan debate. an important reason why our alliance has grown stronger, decade after decade, is that it has been championed by both parties, and so it must remain. [applause] both democratic and republican presidents have worked together with friends from both sides of the aisles in congress supporting israel and the alliance between our two countries. working together, they have provided israel with generous military assistance and missile defense funding and spending. we saw how important that was last summer. they have made israel the first three trade partner of america 30 years ago, and its first official strategic partner, last year. [applause] they have backed israel in defending ourselves at war and achieving a durable peace with our neighbors. working together has made israel stronger.

it has made our alliance stronger. that is why, the last thing that anyone cares about israel, the last thing i would want, is for israel to become a partisan issue. i regret that some people miss perceive my visit here this week, as doing that. israel has always been a bipartisan issue. israel should remain a bipartisan issue. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the purpose of my address to congress tomorrow is to speak up about a potential deal with iran that could threaten the survival of israel.

iran is the foremost state sponsor of terrorism in the world. look at that graph. look at that map. you can see on the wall, it shows iran training armies dispatching terrorists on five continents. iran and bell of the entire world with its tentacles of terror. this is what iran is doing now without nuclear weapons. imagine what iran would do with nuclear weapons. this same iran vows to annihilate israel if it develops nuclear weapons it would have been mean to achieve -- it would have the means to achieve that goal. we must not let that happen. [applause]

as prime minister of israel, i have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them. for 2000 years, my people, the jewish people, were stateless, defenseless, voiceless. we were utterly powerless against our enemies, who swore to destroy us. we suffered relentless persecution and her rhythmic attacks. we could never speak on our own behalf. we could not defend ourselves. well, no more. no more. the days when the jewish people are passive in the face of threats to annihilate us, those days are over. [applause]

today and our sovereign state of israel, we defend ourselves. and, being able to defend ourselves, we ally with others most importantly the united states of america, to defend our common civilization against common threats. in our part of the world, and increasingly in every part of the world, no one makes alliances with the week.

to seek out to those who have strength, those who have resolved, those who have determination to fight or themselves, that is how alliances are formed. so, we defend ourselves, and in so doing, create the basis of a broader alliance. and today, we are no longer silent. today, we have a voice. [applause] and tomorrow, tomorrow, as prime minister of the only jewish state, i plan to use that voice. [applause] i plan to speak about the iranian regime that is threatening to destroy israel,

that is devouring country after country in the middle east. that is exporting terror throughout the world, and that is developing, as we speak, the capacity to make nuclear weapons, lots of them. ladies and gentlemen, we agree that iran should not have nuclear weapons. but, we disagree on the best way to prevent iran from developing those weapons. disagreements among allies, only natural from time to time, it even among the closest allies. because there are important differences tween america and israel. america is a large country, one of the largest. israel is a small country.

one of the smallest. america lives in one of the world's safest neighborhoods. israel lives in the world's most dangerous neighborhood. america is the strongest power in the world. israel is strong, but it is much more vulnerable. america's leaders worry about the security of their country. israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country. [applause] i think that encapsulates the difference. i have been prime minister for nine years. there is not a single day, not one day, that i did not think about the survival of my

country, and the actions i take to ensure that survival. not one day. [applause] and, because of these differences, america and israel have had serious disagreements over the course of our nearly 70-year-old friendship. that started with the beginning. in 1948, secretary of state george marshall opposed the intention to declare statehood. he vehemently opposed it. but then goren, understanding what was at stake, declared israel's independence. in 1967, as an arab noose was tightening around israel's neck the u.s. warned the prime minister that if israel acted alone, it would be alone. but israel did act, acted alone, to defend itself. in 1981, under the leadership of

prime minister, israel destroyed the nuclear reactor. [applause] the united states criticized israel, and suspended arms transfers for three months. in 2002, after the worst wave of palestinian terror attacks in israel's history, the prime minister launched operation defensive shield. the u.s. demanded that israel withdraw troops immediately, that the prime minister continued until the operation was completed. there is a reason i mention all these. i mention them to make a point. despite occasional disagreements, the friendship between america and israel grew stronger and stronger, decade after decade. [applause]

and our friendship will weather the current disagreement as well, to grow even stronger in the future. [applause] i will tell you why. because we share the same dreams. because we pray and hope and a for that same, better world. because the values that unite us are much stronger than the differences that divide us. [applause] values like liberty, equality, justice, tolerance, compassion. as our region descends into medieval barbarism, israel is the one that upholds these values. as bombs are dropped, israeli

doctors treated victims in the golan heights. as christians in the middle east are beheaded, israel's christian community is growing and thriving, the only such community in the middle east. [applause] as women in the region are oppressed and enslaved and raped, women in israel serve as chief justices, fighter pilots two women chief justices in a row.

well, not in a row. but, in succession. that is pretty good. in a dark and savage and desperate middle east, israel is a beacon of humanity, of light and of hope. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, israel and the u.s. will continue to stand together, because america and israel are more than friends. we are like family. disagreements in the family are always uncomfortable. but we'll must always remember that we are family. rooted in a common heritage, upholding common values, sharing a common destiny. that is the message i came to tell you today.

our friendship is strong, and with your efforts, it will get even stronger in the years to come. thank you, aipac. thank you, america. bless you all. >> before i begin i want to thank howard for the invitation. i would like to give a shout out

to bob who is meant so much for this organization and for the u.s. israel partnership. in 1942, a 28-year-old polish diplomat and roman catholic disguised himself as a jew donned an armband with the star of david and smuggled himself through a tunnel into the warsaw ghetto. later, posing as a militia man he infiltrated the not see death camp and escaped with microfilm. he made his way to london where he showed the documents to his representative from the polish government in a style. he sent the following cable to the world jewish conference in new york. jews in poland are almost

completely annihilated. deportation of 10,000 jews are dead. forced to dig their own graves, mass suicide, hundreds of children thrown into gutters. thousands dead, mass graves, murder of pregnant women. jews are naked and dragged into death chambers. hunting fugitives. thousands are daily victims throughout poland. believe the unbelievable. six years later the declaration that created the state of israel was given.

jews had dreamed of being a free nation in their own land. of vision articulated by theodore hartsell. this long-held dream was greater urgency. the savagery was a major evidence behind the creation. i began my career as a journalist. moved by the harrowing images of concentration camps. i covered the horrors of a war where kids were picked off their bicycles by snipers. women were raped and some 8000 unarmed men and boys were murdered. it was the largest massacre in

europe since world war ii. i saw the citizens of bosnia look in also hope to you in peacekeepers to protect them. i was chilled by what i saw, and chilled equally by the slowness of the world's response. i did not understand how the world could say we had learned the lessons of the holocaust and never again, only to witness sarajevo and the rwandan genocide. so much of what i saw left and enduring impression, but nothing so much as the children's memorial. the descent into a dark cavern illuminated by candles, paying

tribute to the memories of 1.5 million children murdered by the nazis. projected in the darkness, a stream of photographs of individual faces of the children killed, as their names countries, and ages echo in the void, implanting themselves in one's consciousness and into one's conscience. you do not need to be jewish to feel the searing loss held by that darkness. a loss, like the tiny specks of light reflected in the cavernous room, that is immeasurable infinite. of course, the story of the creation of israel and the u.n. is about more than a reaction against the evils of the holocaust. the story is also the story of thousands of years of jews your earning for a homeland, and it is the story of a set of principles reflected in israel's

founding document, which envisaged a state based on freedom, justice, and peace, as envisaged by the prophets of israel. a state that would be faithful to the principles of the charter of the united nations. end quote. it is bitterly unjust that the u.n., an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, is so often used cynically by member states to treat israel unequally. [applause] these attacks on israel's legitimacy are biased, they are ugly, and the united states of america will not rest until they stop. [applause]

now, as a few of you may have heard, the prime minister of israel is in town. [applause] rumor has it, he may be giving a couple speeches? you may also heard about tension in the relationship between the u.s. and israel. let's separate a few different issues. politics, policy, and what the u.s. does each and every day to combat anti-semitism around the world, and fight attacks against israel at the united nations. [applause] we believe firmly that israel's security and the u.s.-israel partnership transcends politics,

and it always will. [applause] that is a very important statement you have all made. it was the same bond that led president truman to make the u.s. the first country to recognize israel. 11 minutes after it declared its existence in 1948. and, it is why we have stood by israel's side every minute since. our commitments to our partnership with israel are bedrock commitments, rooted in shared fundamental values must amended through decades of

bipartisan reinforcement. this partnership should never be politicized. it cannot and will not be tarnished or broken. [applause] now, debating the most effective policy within our respective democracies, and among partners, is more than useful. it is a necessary part of arriving at informed decisions. politicizing that process is not. the stakes are too high for that. [applause] on a policy, the negotiations that we and our partners have entered into with iran negotiations aimed centrally at denying iran a nuclear weapon, have generated reasonable debate. my colleague and dear friend susan rice will speak about iran later tonight. i am struck, when i read about

alleged policy differences on the iran nuclear negotiations, i really see mentioned the foundational strategic agreement between the u.s. and israel. an agreement that undergirds our entire engagement with iran. the u.s. will not allow iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, period. [applause] now, let me put president obama's commitment to denying iran in nuclear weapon in context. the obama administration has invested more than $20 billion in foreign military financing for israel, far more than for any other country, and more than at any previous time in the history of the u.s.-israel relationship.

[applause] and, and, the president not only committed to denying iran a nuclear weapon before negotiations with iran began, he has reiterated the same commitment during negotiations and he will keep his commitment, whether negotiations collapse or not, for it is a diplomatic solution that meets our bottom line. maybe the president has made this point so often, that it is not heard in the same way anymore. but we have to keep repeating it. talks, no talks. agreements, no agreements. the u.s. will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our national security, and that of our closest allies. [applause] we believe diplomacy is the preferred route to secure our shared aim.

we know the stakes of a nuclear armed iran as well as anyone here. we will not let it happen. [applause] there will never be a sunset on america's commitment to israel's security. never. [applause] now, let me turn to aspects of the u.s.-israel partnership that get less attention. what the united states is doing every day to combat anti-semitism around the world into have israel's back at the united nations. we are living in an era when anti-semitism is searching. we should -- is surging. we should all be discouraged. we saw rallies in paris where protesters marched on a synagogue saying " jews to the oven."

we see congregants forced to walk through metal detectors to enter their synagogue. we have seen murders. the attack on the jewish school in to lose -- jewish school in toulouse. then there are the signs that we cannot see, but are no less chilling. jews thinking twice before shopping in a kosher supermarket. in 2004, all 55 countries in the organization for security and cooperation in europe convened in berlin to make an historic pledge to combat all forms of anti-semitism. when the countries reassembled last year, president obama asked me to lead the presidential

delegation to the meeting. what i told the leaders gathered there is what you are you know. anti-somatic attacks are not only an attack to the jewish community, but the european liberalism and pluralism. i told the european gathering that while freedom of expression is a sacred right, criticism of israel can never be used as a justification of incitement to violence. [applause] and i told them that when leaders speak up, nations take notice. unfortunately, president obama was one of the few leaders to send cabinet level representatives to this important conference. even more alarming, only two thirds of the country's that participated in 2004 were represented in 2014. given that the situation has only gotten worse, i asked the policymakers, doesn't this issue

merit the same show of solidarity and commitment from governments today as it did a decade ago? we believe it deserves that and more. that is why in recent years, the united states has been working relentlessly to take robust steps from developing hate crime legislation to prosecuting perpetrators of anti-semitic acts. the last place that you might expect meaningful action to come back anti-semitism -- to combat anti-semitism is at the united nations. as you all know, it was 40 years ago, in 1975, that the un's general assembly adopted a resolution with the support of

75 amber states which determined -- 75 member states which determined that zionism is a form of racism. when the u.s. ambassador to the u.n. at the time passionately objected -- [applause] when he passionately objected to the resolution, he told the general assembly, the abomination of anti-semitism has been given the appearance of international sanction. what we have here is a lie. it was precisely because of this lie and the fact that the general assembly does not act fairly toward israel, that we worked over the last year to convene the first ever meeting on anti-semitism in the very same un's general assembly that

gave us zionism as racism. moynihan would not have believed the scene when many countries and people of all faiths took the podium not only to attack anti-semitism, but also to commit their countries to take concrete steps to stop its alarming rise. going forward, all countries now need to be held to those pledges. [applause] let me give you a sampling of what we have done across the u.n. system to defend israel's right to be treated like any other nation. we opposed everyone of them.

when the u.n. human rights council held a session last july to inquire about human rights violations in the palestinian territories, we cast the soul no vote -- the sole no vote on a resolution that did not mention hamas even wants -- mention hamas even once. [applause] and this is after hamas had fired proximally 4000 rockets on israel last year. in 2009, more than half of the resolutions adopted on the human rights council focused on israel. today, we have lowered that proportion to a third. but still, the human rights council has adopted more

resolutions criticizing israel than it has for north korea, where children are forced to witness the execution of their parents. at the security council, we have also guarded vigilantly against any resolution that goes against israel's authority or undermines peace. in december, we successfully rallied other countries to go against the resolution on palestinian statehood. i recognized at the time that a two state system is vital and we [applause] as i told the un security council at the time, the united states recognizes as do many israeli leaders, that a two state solution is vital to preserving a jewish and democratic israel and we stand ready as we always have to support and engage with the parties and working towards that

two state solution. the ponderous -- but progress towards that tough decision and successor u.s. administrations have been clear for decades israel activities damages the prospects for peace, nor will one-sided actions and secessions to international treaties at the international criminal court help us get to a negotiating solution. [applause] it is a false choice to tell israel that it has to choose between peace on the one hand and security on the other. the united nations would not ask any other country to make that choice and it should not ask it of israel. [applause] we have priced -- press the u.s. security council. leading up to 2012, the council

would not issue a single press statement condemning attack on israel. astor, it issued three including ones announcing the sickening kidnapping and murder of three is lately -- israeli teenagers. [applause] day in and day out we fight out for israel's full and equal participation in u.n. bodies. while this may sound bureaucratic these are the organs were actual policies are handed out and they matter. for years, israel was the only u.n. member states that was excluded from a regional body in geneva and the only group that has no group to caucus with in new york and the general assembly committee that addresses human rights. i was determined to change this and we did. in january 2014 after he sustained full court democratic -- diplomatic press israel got

membership in the western european and others group and of february 2 any 14, we secured israel membership in a like-minded caucus which has long been excluded in new york. now, no one will have to fight those battles again. 2[applause] unfortunately, there are so many more battles. confronting anti-israel bias is part of a long bipartisan american tradition at the u.n.. it is part of the legacy of every single u.s. fastener to the united nations. for my predecessor rise who fought in and put in the toughest regime against iran, from one hand to hatchet, from albright to holbrook. why does the u.s. put so much into this effort. i would borrow the exclamation that president johnson gave

after the six day war when the soviet premier asked him why the united states was supporting israel, a nation so vastly outnumbered by neighboring countries with which it was at war. president johnson responded "numbers do not determine what is right." that was true for america in 1967 and it is true for american support for israel today. [laughter] [applause] and the reason that it is right is because we believe in israel. we believe in the values of pluralism, freedom, and democracy that it represents and we believe that the jewish people sit always have a homeland that is safe and secure. [applause] but there's another reason. there is another reason that we put so much into ensuring israel gets a seat that it deserves at every table and take part in responding to the great challenges of our time. given the equal opportunity to contribute, israel has shown

time and again how much it has to offer the world. consider israel's participation in the u.s. response of like the recent opal outbreak, where israel country beaded the highest per capita amounts of money and resources. at the same time as it delivered mobile a bowl of treatments to the affected countries. or think about its rapid deployment following the devastating earthquake in haiti in 2010. an entire field hospital with 200 personnel deployed within four days of the earthquake. if those are not modern-day embodiments of [indiscernible] , i do not know what is. [applause] there is a broader reason that why we fight relentlessly for israel to be treated equally at

the u.n.. that is to bring the u.n. closer to meeting the goals of its charter. as everything i've set up to this point has made clear, i am under no illusions of the plaza contradictions within the u.n., but we do not have the option of walking away. whether bringing countries together to expand the coalition confronting i still or stopping atrocities, the u.n. can help advance american and israel shared interests. the problem that we see at the u.n., including anti-israel bias, do not exist because of the u.n. organization, per se, but the u.n. is the venue where various countries biases are aired. we will never accept this, but we cannot give up on this problem. we must commit ourselves to forging through our principles and our arguments and our sweat to the world that we seek. that is what moynihan's also clearly invented 1975, when he told the u.n., as it prepared to

pass that infamous resolution "what we have at stake here is not merely the honor and the legitimacy of the state of israel. i challenge to the legitimacy of a member nation ought to arouse the vigilance of all members of united nations. the more important matter is at issue, which is the integrity of the whole body and the moral and legal precepts which we know is human rights." the stakes have not changed. and if we are to contain -- confront today's threats from terrorist to the diseases to poverty, we need more countries that share our commitment to values so that we can make the world more just and more secure. let me conclude. for israel, too often, the right to be treated equally and at times even the time to exist at

all has been challenge. israel's history, and part, is the story of perpetually overcoming these challenges. it is a story that is still being written as the obstacle still exist in so many forms reveal what anti-semitism around the world regimes that threaten its distance rate throughout its history, the united states has stood shoulder to shoulder with our partner through stake and then. several decades ago, when like today, some citing tensions in the times -- ties between the united states and israel, a why senator from massachusetts said, "it is worth remembering that israel is a cause that stands beyond the ordinary changes of american public life. in our pluralistic society, it is not been a jewish cause any more than irish independence was solely the concern of americans with irish descent. the ideals of zionism have been

repeatedly endorsed by president and members of congress from both parties. friendship for israel is not a partisan matter. it is a national commitment." [applause] that year was 1960 and the senator was john f. kennedy, but his words hold true today. the bond between the united states and israel is still a national commitment. it should never be a partisan matter. the bond much much deeper than any one issue or one generation. now, as then, we cannot and will not lose sight of that. thank you so much. [applause] ♪ >> now, national security advisor susan writes -- advisor susan rice talks about u.s. israel relations and the nuclear negotiations between iran and

the p5 plus one countries which includes the united states. rice: good evening everyone. it is great to be back at aipac. [applause] rosie, thank you so much for your warm introduction. i also want to thank howard core bob:, lillian pincus, and my old friend lee rosenberg and , all of aipac's board and members for walking me tonight. i also want to thank the members of congress. [applause] i want to thank all the members of congress who represent america strong bipartisan support for the state of israel. [applause]

and all the young people here today, some 3000, who represent -- [applause] some 3000 young people who represent the bright future of the u.s.-israel special relationship. i brought one of those young people with me tonight. my 17-year-old son jake who , insisted he had to come to aipac. [applause] but i want to take a moment, before i begin, to remember three young men who aren't with us here today. i want to call us back to those terrible days last summer when

we were united in grief over the horrifying kidnapping and murder of three israeli teenagers. [applause] as a mother, my heart breaks for such unspeakable loss. those boys where our boys. and we continue to mourn their tragic loss. the last time i spoke at aipac it was to the synagogue initiative lunch. this group tonight is a little bit larger. [laughter] but when i finish that speech, more than 400 rabbis thanked me

in hebrew. now, that is something i will never forget. the words of their song reflects the spirit that brings me here tonight. [speaking hebrew] [applause] "how good it is and how pleasant when we sit together in brotherhood." it is a great song and i admit where i first encountered it in church, it was not the original hebrew. that song always reminds me how much we can do together when we unite in common purpose.

it goes to the heart of what aipac is all about. what the relationship between israel and the united states is is all about -- brotherhood togetherness, unity. that is because the u.s.-israel alliance is not just rooted in our mutual interest, vital as they are. it is also rooted in the values of freedom and democracy that we share. and it is in the friendship and fellowship between ordinary israelis and americans. for me personally, it is a warmth that is rooted in my very first visit to israel. i was just 14, traveling with my brother and my beloved, late father.

my dad was on the board of twa. some of you are old enough to remember that once great airline. [laughter] we arrived on one of the first ever flights for egypt to israel just after the camp david accords were signs. we had an unforgettable visit. the power of which has stayed with me all my life. we bowed our heads and sorrow. we want the lanes of the old city, client masada -- climbed masada, floated in the dead sea, and pick fruit at a kibbutz. my first memories of israel remain etched in my soul. put simply -- relationship

between the united states and israel is not just one between states, it is one between two peoples in the millions -- and the millions of personal intimate connections that bind us. [applause] our relationship has deepened and grown through different presidents and prime ministers for nearly 70 years. it was president truman, a democrat, who just 11 minutes after david ben-gurion declared israel's independence, made the united states the first country to recognize the state of israel. [applause] it was president nixon, a republican, who made sure that

america stood with israel as it fought for survival on one terrible yom kippur so that people could declare [speaking hebrew]. [applause] "the people of israel live." it was president carter who helped israel forged a historic peace with egypt that doors to this day. -- that endures to this day. and it was president clinton and president george w. bush who backed israel as it took more brave steps for peace and as it endured terrorist attacks from hezbollah and hamas. the relationships between the united states and the state of israel is not a partnership between individual leaders of political parties, it is an

alliance between two nations rooted in the unbreakable friendship between our two peoples. [applause] it is not negotiable and it never will be. [applause] our alliance grows [hebrew]. "from generation to generation." that is what counts. that is what we have to protect. as john f. kennedy said back in 1960, "friendship for israel is not a partisan matter, it is a national commitment."

[applause] no one knows this that are the -- better than all of you. for decades aipac has built bipartisan support for america's special relationship with israel. that is why every president from harry truman to brock about -- barack obama has begun with a fundamental premise, that is that strengthening the security of israel is in the national interest of the united states. [applause] president obama's commitment to israel is deep and personal. i know because i see it every day. i first saw it when i

accompanied then-senator obama to israel in 2008. i saw it when he surveyed with poor the stacks of charred rockets that hamas had fired on israel, and when he walked through the hollowed out homes. that same year, president obama came to this conference, still a senator, and he made a promise. he said that israel's security is sacrosanct. and each day over the past six years, president obama has kept that promise. [applause] the president is profoundly committed to ensuring that israel is never alone. [applause]

that is why today security cooperation between our two countries is not just wrong, it is stronger that it has ever been. -- than it has ever been. [applause] both president obama and prime minister netanyahu have called it "unprecedented," and that is the way it is going to stay. [applause] president obama has met with prime minister netanyahu more times than with any other world leader. as national security advisor, i am in nearly cost the communication with my friends and israeli counterpart, who i am so pleased is here tonight.

[applause] i also want to thank his predecessor who is also here tonight and who was kind enough to greet me backstage. [applause] and i have to say hello to my dear friend who served together with me for many years of the united nations. [applause] so together, he and i host the u.s. sick ocean will -- group to work closely in the highest levels of our government. our armed forces conduct extensive exercises together and our military and intelligence leaders consoled continually. -- consult continually. under this administration in

times of tight budget, i've security -- our security to israel has increased. since president obama took office the united states has provided israel with more than $20 billion in foreign terry -- military financing. [applause] last year, we provided israel with the largest package of security assistance ever. [applause] and that is money very well spent because it goes directly to bolstering israel's ability to defend itself by itself in a very tough neighborhood. [applause] agosto protecting israeli citizens -- it goes to

protecting israel -- israeli citizens and an ally. we defend with new technology and access to the most advanced military equipment to the world. president obama is determined to ensure that israel -- i'm sorry. when israel receives the f-15 joint strike fighter next year it will be the only nation in the middle east with a fifth generation aircraft. [applause] since 2009, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in developing and producing the missile defense program and the missile system. we have invested more than $1

billion in the ironed dome system. [applause] as the oc knows, when i visit israel last may, i saw the technology firsthand at the air force base. last summer, as hamas terrorist rockets rained down on israeli citizens, people saw how the dome save the lives literally every day. [applause] during the height of that conflict, with sirens wailing and israeli citizens huddling in bomb shelters, united states stood up for israel's right to defend itself against rocket and tunnel attacks, even as we work with the israeli government to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

and when the israeli government made an urgent request for an additional $225 million to support iron don't batteries, president obama's response was immediate and clear. he said, "let's do itt." [applause] so within days, legislation was drafted, passed through congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, and president obama signed into law. at that critical moment, we replenished israel's arsenal of iron dome interceptor missiles. that is what it means to be an ally. [applause] our unwavering commitment to

israel's security is why we will also never give up on it just and comprehensive peace between israel is an palestinians. -- israelis and palestinians. [applause] it will require hard decisions but the united states will remain a steadfast partner. like past administrations republican and democratic, we believe that a truly lasting peace can only be forged by direct talks between the two parties. [applause] like past administrations, we are concerned by you or our action -- unilateral action to ensure legitimacy. like every administration,

republican and democratic, since the six-day war, we have opposed israeli settlement activity and we oppose palestinian steps to throw up the further obstacle to peace, including actions against israel at the criminal court. [applause] the only path to ensure israel's long-term security is to bring about a viable, sovereign palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace and security with a democratic jewish state of israel. [applause] israel's security, our mutual security, is also at the heart of president obama's most

important foreign-policy objectives -- ensuring that iran does not get a nuclear weapon. [applause] as president obama has repeated many times, we are keeping all options on the table to prevent iran from developing a nuclear weapon. [applause] as he said in jerusalem and i quote "iran must not get a nuclear weapon." "this is not a danger that can be contained and he added that america will do what we must to prevent a nuclear armed iran." president obama said it, he meant it, and those are his

orders to us all. [applause] that is still the way that we see the danger of a today. given iran's support for terrorism, the risk of a nuclear arms race in the region, and the danger to the entire global nonproliferation regime, an iran with a nuclear weapon would not just be a threat to israel, it is also an unacceptable threat to the united states of america. [applause] we understand the unique concerns of our israeli friends and partners. in jerusalem, president obama

said "when i consider israel's security, i also think about the people who have a living memory of the holocaust. faced with the prospect of a nuclear-armed iranian government that has called for israel's destruction. no wonder israelis view this as an existential threat." but this is not simply a challenge for israel, it is a danger to the entire world including the united states." [applause] now i want to be very clear. a bad deal is worse than no deal. [applause]

and, if that is the choice, there will be no deal. [applause] now, negotiations continue, and nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. as of today, significant gaps remain between the international community and iran. i am not going to get into all the details about ongoing negotiations, nor should sensitive details of such a negotiation be discussed in public. but i do want to make five key points about our approach to the

negotiations. first, with the joint plan of action we have already succeeded in halting iran's nuclear program and rolling it back in key respects. [applause] let's recall what has been achieved over the last year. iran is doing away with his execs thing -- with its existing stockpile of its most highly enriched uranium. iran has capped its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. iran has not constructed additional enrichment facilities. iran has not installed or operated new centrifuges including its next-generation models. iran has stopped construction at

its potential plutonium reactor in iraq. in short, iran is further away from a nuclear weapon than it was a year ago. [applause] and that makes the world safer including israel. moreover, we are not taking anything on trust. what matters are iran's actions, not its words. [applause] that is why, as part of the joint plan of action, we have insisted upon and achieved unprecedented access to iran's nuclear program. before the joint plan of action inspections happened only every few weeks, sometimes every few months.

today the international atomic energy agency has daily access at iran's key nuclear facilities . verifying that iran is meeting its commitment. if i can paraphrase president reagan with a twist -- our approach is distrust but verify. [applause] second, we have kept the pressure on iran. i know this firsthand because when i was u.n. ambassador, president obama personally directed me to make sure that the security council's sanctions had bite and they do. today, even with limited

sanctions relief, iran's economy remains isolated from the international financial system and cut off from the vast majority of its foreign currency reserves. iran's oil exports have dropped almost 60% since 2012. the rialto has depreciated by more than 50%, and iran's overall gdp has shrunk by almost 10%. all told, sanctions have deprived iran of more than $200 billion in lost revenue. [applause] i should be precise and say that is oil revenue, not all revenue. more has been lost beyond that. but sanctions are a tool, not in end in themselves. -- not an end in themselves.

the pressure now after we and our partners have brought to bear, is whether we can verify that iran cannot pursue a nuclear weapon. the question now is whether we can achieve a comprehensive deal , a good deal. this is my third point. a good deal is one that would verifiably cut off every pathway for iran to produce enough fissile material for a single nuclear weapon. [applause] every single pathway, any deal must prevent iran from developing weapons-grade plutonium at iraq or anywhere else. [applause] any deal must prevent iran from

enriching uranium at its nuclear facility at fort out. that is the site we uncovered buried deep underground and revealed to the world in 2009. any deal must increase the time it takes iran to reach breakout capacity. that is, as you know, the time it would take to produce a single box worth of weapons-grade uranium. today experts suggest iran's breakout window is just two to three months. we seek to extend that to at least one year. any deal must ensure frequent and intrusive inspections at iran's nuclear site. including the uranium mills that

produced the material fed into iran's enrichment and conversion facility to create a multilayer transparency regime that provides the international community with the confidence it demands. that is the best way to prevent iran from pursuing a covert path to a nuclear weapon, to stop iran from working toward a bomb in secret. any deal must also address the possible military dimensions of iran's nuclear program. [applause] and, going forward, we will not accept a deal that print -- a deal that fails to provides access we need to ensure that iran's program is peaceful. [applause]

and any deal must last more than a decade, with additional provisions ensuring greater transparency into iran's program for an even longer period of time. that is what we are working toward, a good long-term comprehensive deal that is verifiably venting iran from obtaining -- that verifiably prevents iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. [applause] that brings me to my fourth point. we cannot let a totally unachievable ideal stand in the way of a good deal. i know that some of you will be urging congress to insist that iran forgo its domestic enrichment capacity entirely. [applause]

but -- but, as desirable as that would be, it is neither realistic nor achievable. even our closest international partners in the p5 plus one do not support denying iran ever to pursue peaceful -- it would undermine the sanctions we have posed so effectively together. simply put, that is not a viable negotiating position.

[applause] nor is it even attainable. the plain fact is no one can make iran unlearn the scientific and nuclear expertise it already possesses. we must also understand what will happen if these negotiations collapse. i know someone argue that we should just impose sanctions and walk away, but let's remember -- [applause] let's remember -- my friends, let's remember that sanctions unfortunately have never stop iran from advancing its program.

-- have never stopped iran from advancing its program. so here is what is likely to happen without a deal. iran will install and operate advanced centrifuges. iran will seek to fuel its reactor in iraq. iran will rebuild its uranium stockpile and will lose the unprecedented inspections and transparency we have today. congress has played a hugely important role in helping to build our sanctions on iran, but they should not play the spoiler now. additional sanctions or restrictive legislation enacted during the negotiations would blow up the talks, divide the international community, and cause the united states to be blamed for the failure to reach a deal.

putting us in a much weaker position and endangering the sanctions regime itself. meanwhile, the iranians are aware that if they walk away from a deal, congress will pass new sanctions immediately, and president obama will support them. [applause] so if iran refuses to resolve the matter diplomatically, and is clearly to blame for that failure, its isolation will only increase. the cost will continue to grow. finally, i know that some question a deal of any duration but it has always been clear that the pursuit of an indefinite -- of an agreement of indefinite duration would result in no agreement at all. the question is, what is the best way to prevent iran from

obtaining a nuclear weapon? a deal that extends for a decade or more would accomplish this goal better than any other course of action, longer by far than military strikes, which would only set back iran's program for a fraction of that time. and, at the end of any deal, iran would still be required to provide comprehensive access to its nuclear facilities, and to provide the international community the assurance that it was not pursuing nuclear weapons. and, if it fails to do so, we would have the ability to make our own decisions about how to move forward, just as we do today. very simply -- there is simple

in no alternative that prevents iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon better or longer than the type of comprehensive deal we seek. we can always bring consequences to bear for the sake of our shared security -- harsh consequences. but precisely because this is such a serious issue, we must weigh the different options before us and choose the best one. soundbites will not stop iran from getting a nuclear weapon. [applause] strong diplomacy, backed by pressure can. [applause] and, if diplomacy fails, let's make it clear to the world that

it is iran's responsibility. [applause] one final word on iran. even if we succeed in neutralizing the nuclear threat from iran, we will still face other threats. iran's sponsorship of terrorism it's gross human rights abuses it's efforts to destabilize neighboring states, its support for hamas and hezbollah, and its threats against israel. we will counter iran and the full range of threats it poses. tara ron -- tehran must

understand the united states will never, ever waver in the defense of our security or the defense of our allies and partners, including israel. [applause] the bottom line is simple. we have israel's back, come hell or high water. [applause] and i have been with you all right there through some pretty high waters. i was proud to fight again and again for israel's security and its basic legitimacy at the united nations. [applause] from leading the charge against

the deeply flawed goldstone report to casting this administration's only veto in the security council to block a counterproductive resolution. [applause] as ambassador power described to you this morning, when it comes to combating the shameful bias against israel at the united nations, israel has no better friend than the united states. [applause] last march we were the sole no vote in the human rights council against anti-israel measures five separate times. [applause]

earlier today secretary kerry went into the belly of the beast and told the human rights council in geneva point-blank that it's up session with -- that its obsession with israel risks undermining the credibility of the entire organization. [applause] and, last month, with israel and the european union, the united states organized the first united nations general assembly meeting to combat anti-semitism. no country is immune from

criticism. take it from this former u.n. ambassador. but when it comes to criticism and when criticism singles out one country unfairly bitterly, viciously, over and over, that is just wrong, and we all know it. [applause] when one democracy's legitimacy is attacked over and over uniquely among the united nations member states, that is ugly, and we all know it. [applause] and, when anti-semitism rears its head around the world when jews in a kosher supermarket in

paris are singled out, murdered by terrorists, when synagogues are attacked and cemeteries defaced, we have to call it by its name. it is hate. it is anti-semitism. [applause] it reminds us of the most terrible chapters of human history. it has no place in a civilized world, and we have to fight it. [applause] these, ladies and gentlemen, our big challenges, but the united states has mastered plenty of big challenges before. israel and the united states are sister democracies, built on the

bedrock values that we are all created in the image of god. [applause] and, like the psalm says, "how good it is when we sit together in brotherhood." but god calls us to do more than just this. god calls us to stand up, to act . this weekend, president obama will travel to selma alabama to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic marchers there. [applause] -- of the historic marches there. [applause]

he will pay tribute to those brave souls who took enormous risk for civil rights, including jerws and rabbis from across this country. from st. louis to san francisco and the northeast and the deep south, they faced tear gas and billy clubs. they were jailed. they conducted shabbat services behind bars, and they sang to the tune of "we shall overcome." [applause] they broke the fast of esther in prison. they even started a trend. some black marchers, moved by

the solidarity of their jewish brethren, started wearing yarmulkes. they called them freedom caps on. [applause] as you recalled last night, one of those on the front lines in selma was the great teacher rabbi abraham joshua heslop. [applause] after marching across the edmund pettit bridge with dr. martin luther king, he reflected, "our legs uttered songs. even without words, our march was worship. our march was worship." the jewish community amplified the rightness and the urgency of

the civil rights movement with its own unassailable moral compass. guided by the basic principle that people should be free in their own land. [applause] and i stand before you, knowing that i and many others would not be here today without all of those who fought for equal rights. african americans and white americans, including so many jewish americans. [applause] as we mark that selma anniversary, as we gather here to celebrate an improbable dream

that grew into the great state of israel, we remember that we can accomplish -- together when we are at our best. in the spirit of brotherhood, we have overcome so many trials to reach where we are as nations, as people. in a spirit of brotherhood inspired by all those who marched and struggled and sacrificed before us, let us continue the work. let us never succumb to hopelessness or cynicism, to division or despair. let our legs uttered songs, and

let our hands reach out together. that is how we fulfill our common commitment to mend our imperfect world. to do the holy work. [applause] and, as we do, at home and around the world, the united states will always stand with our israeli friends and allies. [applause] that is our enduring commitment. that is our sacred duty. that is the hope and the future for our children.

so let us keep marching, arm in arm, together. thank you very much. [music plays] >> "washington journal" is next. a look at today's news and taking your phone calls. the u.s. house comes briefly in at 10:00 eastern and will briefly recess to get ready for prime minister benjamin netanyahu's address to congress. coverage of this event at 11:00 eastern here on c-span. coming up this hour, we will get a preview of the prime minister's speech. washington bureau chief for the washington post, michael wilner, joins us.

we will also talk to joe wilson, and member of the foreign affairs committee. and later, a debate with ryan higgins of new york. and you can prevent the cut -- you can join the conversation on twitter. host: good morning. a lot happening today. cnn reporting that house republican leadership could put forward a version of the bill that would include language that would stop the present executive action on immigration. also senator elizabeth of massachusetts will not attend today's joint meeting of congress -- elizabeth warren of massachusetts will not attend today's joint meeting of congress