THREAT TO BOTH AMERICA AND
ISRAEL AND ITS QUEST TO BECOME A
NUCLEAR POWER CONTINUES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO
WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS TO
ENSURE THAT IRAN NEVER ACQUIRES
THE BOND.
[APPLAUSE]
WE THANK YOU, MR. VICE
PRESIDENT, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS.
THAT WAS CLEAR WHEN YOU TOOK A
STAND AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN
STATEHOOD BID AT THE UNITED NATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
WE REMAIN HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER TO FORGE A LASTING
NEGOTIATED PEACE RESULTING IN A
JEWISH STATE ISRAEL LIVING
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH A
DEMILITARIZED PALESTINIAN STATE.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT PERHAPS THE MOST TANGIBLE
EVIDENCE OF YOUR SUPPORT HAS
BEEN THROUGH YOUR COMMITMENT TO
FOREIGN AID INTO ISRAEL MISSILE
DEFENSE PROGRAMS. BECAUSE OF THIS ADMINISTRATIONS
DEDICATION TO ISRAEL, MORE THAN
$400 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED
IN IRON DOME. [APPLAUSE]
YOUR SUPPORT, MR. VICE PRESIDENT
DURING OPERATION KILLER OF DEFENSE AND COMMITMENT TO THESE
LIFE-SAVING SYSTEMS ENABLES
ISRAEL TO DEFEND ITSELF WHILE
PREVENTING A WIDER CONFLICT.
MILLION OF ISRAELIS ARE ABLE TO
SLEEP MORE SOUNDLY TONIGHT BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT AND
COMMITMENT, YOU, PRESIDENT
OBAMA, AND CONGRESS HAVE MADE TO
ISRAEL'S SECURITY.
[APPLAUSE]
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN PLEASE
GIVE OUR THANKS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR HIS SUPPORT IN
STRENGTHENING THE U.S.-ISRAEL
ALLIANCE. [APPLAUSE]
AND PLEASE THANK HIM FOR GOING
TO ISRAEL IN A FEW WEEKS.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS TRIP SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
AND THE WORLD ABOUT AMERICA'S
COMMITMENT TO THE JEWISH STATE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM HONORED TO INTRODUCE AND
WELCOME A FRIEND WHO STANDS WITH
US NOW AND HAD STOOD WITH US
ALWAYS A STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF
THE U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP,
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES JOE BIDEN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS REALLY NICE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OH, WHAT
A DIFFERENCE FOUR YEARS MAKE.
I LOOK OUT THERE AND SEE AN OLD
FRIEND, ANNETTE LANTOS.
ANNETTE, HOW ARE YOU?
HER HUSBAND TOM LANTOS A
SURVIVOR, WAS MY ASSISTANT WAS
MY FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER FOR
YEARS, AND TOM USED TO SAY ALL
THE TIME, JOE -- HE TALKED THAT
HUNGARIAN ACCENT -- JOE, WE MUST DO ANOTHER FUNDRAISER FOR AIPAC.
[LAUGHTER]
I DID MORE FUNDRAISERS FOR AIPAC
IN THE 1970S AND EARLY 1980S
THAN -- JUST ABOUT AS MANY AS ANYBODY.
THANK GOD YOU WERE NOT PUTTING
ON SHOWS LIKE THIS. WE WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT.
MY LORD, IT'S SO GREAT TO BE
WITH YOU ALL AND GREAT TO SEE YOU.
MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION, AND
PRESIDENT-ELECT BOB COHEN, THE
ENTIRE AIPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY, BUT I'M PARTICULARLY
DELIGHTED TO BE WITH AN OLD
FRIEND -- AND HE IS AN OLD
FRIEND.
WE USE THAT PHRASE LIGHTLY IN
WASHINGTON, BUT IT'S REAL, AND I THINK HE'D EVEN TELL YOU.
EHUD BARAK, IT'S GREAT TO BE
WITH YOU.
GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. [APPLAUSE]
THERE IS A STAND-UP GUY.
THERE IS A STAND-UP GUY
STANDING UP FOR HIS COUNTRY
PUTTING HIS LIFE ON THE LINE FOR HIS COUNTRY, AND CONTINUING TO
DEFEND THE VALUES THAT WE ALL
SHARE.
I AM A FAN OF THE MAN.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, EHUD.
IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A LOT OF YOU KNOW ME IF YOU'RE OLD
ENOUGH.
SOME OF YOU DO NOT KNOW ME AND
UNDERSTAND I CAN'T SEE NOW, BUT ON THE BLEACHERS ON EITHER SIDE,
I AM TOLD YOU HAVE 2,000 YOUNG
AIPAC MEMBERS HERE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT
OVER THE YEARS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT.
THIS IS THE LIFEBLOOD.
THIS IS THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE. THIS IS THE REASON WHY NO
AMERICAN WILL EVER FORGET.
YOU HAVE GOT TO KEEP RAISING IT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE
STOOD SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER A LOT OF US, ON THE AUDITORIUM,
DEFENDING THE LEGITIMATE
INTERESTS OF ISRAEL AND OUR
ENDURING COMMITMENT OVER THE
LAST FOUR YEARS.
MANY OF YOU IN THIS HALL -- I
WON'T START TO NAME THEM, BUT
MANY OF YOU IN THIS HALL
STARTING WITH ANNETTE LANTOS'
HUSBAND, WHO IS NOT HERE, GOD
REST HIS SOUL -- MANY OF YOU IN
THIS HALL HAVE BEEN MY TEACHERS,
MY MENTORS, AND MY EDUCATORS
AND THAT IS NOT HYPERBOLE.
YOU LITERALLY HAVE BEEN, BUT MY
EDUCATION STARTED, AS SOME OF
YOU KNOW, AT MY FATHER'S DINNER
TABLE. MY FATHER IS WHAT YOU WOULD
HAVE CALLED A RIGHTEOUS
CHRISTIAN. WE GATHERED AT MY DINNER TABLE
TO HAVE CONVERSATION AND
INCIDENTALLY, EAT, AS WE WERE
GROWING UP.
IT WAS AT THAT TABLE I FIRST
HEARD THE PHRASE IT IS OVERUSED
SOMETIMES TODAY, BUT IN A SENSE
NOT USED MEANINGFULLY ENOUGH
FIRST I HEARD THE PHRASE "NEVER
AGAIN."
IT WAS THAT TABLE THAT I LEARNED
THAT THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE
THAT IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN
WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
EXISTENCE OF A SECURE JEWISH
STATE OF ISRAEL.
[APPLAUSE] I REMEMBER MY FATHER A
CHRISTIAN, BEING BAFFLED AT THE
DEBATE TAKING PLACE AT THE END
OF WORLD WAR II, TALKING ABOUT
IT -- I DON'T REMEMBER IT AT
COULD BE A DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF WHETHER OR NOT TO ESTABLISH
THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
MY FATHER WOULD SAY, WERE HE A
JEW, HE WOULD NEVER, NEVER ENTRUST THE SECURITY OF HIS
PEOPLE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NATION,
NO MATTER HOW GOOD AND HOW NOBLE
IT WAS, LIKE THE UNITED STATES. EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S REAL
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW ONE
THING -- WITH SOME OF YOU -- I
HAVE MET WITH A LOT OF YOU OVER
THE LAST 40 YEARS, BUT THE LAST
FOUR YEARS AS WELL, PRESIDENT
OBAMA SHARES MY COMMITMENT.
WE BOTH KNOW THAT ISRAEL FACES
NEW THREATS, NEW PRESSURES AND
UNCERTAINTY. THE DEFENSE MINISTER AND I HAVE
DISCUSSED IT OFTEN.
IN THE AREA OF NATIONAL
SECURITY, THE THREATS TO
ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE CONTINUE
BUT THEY HAVE CHANGED AS THE
WORLD AND THE REGION HAVE
CHANGED OVER THE LAST DECADE.
THE ARAB SPRING, AT ONCE FULL OF
BOTH HOPE AND UNCERTAINTY, HAS
REQUIRED ISRAEL AND THE UNITED
STATES TO REASSESS OLD AND
SETTLED RELATIONSHIPS. IRAN'S DANGEROUS NUCLEAR
WEAPONS PROGRAM AND ITS
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HEZBOLLAH
AND HAMAS NOT ONLY ENDANGER
ISRAEL BUT ENDANGER THE WORLD.
[APPLAUSE}
ATTEMPTS OF MUCH OF THE WORLD
TO ISOLATE AND DELEGITIMIZE THE
STATE OF ISRAEL ARE
INCREASINGLY COMMON AND TAKEN AS
THE NORM IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD.
ALL THESE PRESSURES ARE SIMILAR
BUT DIFFERENT AND THEY'VE PUT
ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE STATE
OF ISRAEL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE
ESPECIALLY UNDERSTAND THAT IF
WE MAKE A MISTAKE, IT IS NOT A
THREAT TO OUR EXISTENCE, BUT IF
ISRAEL MAKES A MISTAKE, IT
COULD BE A THREAT TO ITS VERY
EXISTENCE.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT IS WHY FROM THE MOMENT THE
PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE, HE HAS
ACTED SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY TO
MAKE CLEAR TO THE WHOLE WORLD
AND TO ISRAEL THAT EVEN AS
CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED ONE
THING HAS NOT, OUR DEEP
COMMITMENT TO THE SECURITY OF
THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.
THAT WILL NOT CHANGE AS LONG AS
I AND HE ARE PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
IT IS IN OUR NAKED SELF-
INTEREST, BEYOND THE MORAL
IMPERATIVE.
ALL OF YOU, I THANK YOU FOR
CONTINUING TO REMIND THE NATION
AND THE WORLD OF THAT
COMMITMENT, AND WHILE WE MAY
NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON TACTICS --
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LOT.
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LOT OF
PRIME MINISTERS.
WE HAVE ALWAYS DISAGREED ON
TACTICS.
WE HAVE ALWAYS DISAGREED AT
SOME POINT OR ANOTHER ON
TACTICS. WE HAVE NEVER DISAGREED ON THE
STRATEGICALLY IMPERATIVE THAT
ISRAEL MUST BE ABOUT TO PROTECT
ITS OWN, MUST BE ABOUT TO DO IT
ON ITS OWN, AND WE MUST ALWAYS
STAND WITH ISRAEL TO BE SURE
THAT CAN HAPPEN. [APPLAUSE]
AND WE WILL.
THAT IS WHY WE WORK SO HARD TO
MAKE SURE ISRAEL HAS ITS
QUALITATIVE EDGE IN THE MIST OF
THE GREAT RECESSION. I HAVE SERVED WITH EIGHT
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU
UNEQUIVOCALLY, NO PRESIDENT HAS
DONE AS MUCH TO PHYSICALLY SECURE THE STATE OF ISRAEL IS
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.
[APPLAUSE]
PRESIDENT OBAMA LAST YEAR
REQUESTED $3.1 BILLION IN
MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL,
THE MOST IN HISTORY.
HE HAS DIRECTED CLOSE
COORDINATION STRATEGICALLY AND
OPERATIONAL BETWEEN OUR
GOVERNMENT AND OUR ISRAEL
PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR
POLITICAL, MILITARY, AND
INTELLIGENCE LEADERSHIP.
I CAN SAY WITH CERTITUDE, IN THE
LAST EIGHT PRESIDENTS, I DO NOT
KNOW ANY TIME WHEN THERE HAVE
BEEN MANY MEETINGS AS MUCH
COORDINATION BETWEEN OUR
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES AND OUR MILITARY.
WE ARE GETTING TIRED OF
TRAVELING BACK ACROSS THE OCEAN,
I THINK.
UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE
HAVE HELD THE MOST REGULAR AND
LARGEST EVER JOINT MILITARY
EXERCISES. WE HAVE INVESTED $275 MILLION IN
IRON DOME, INCLUDING $70 MILLION THAT THE PRESIDENT
DIRECTED TO BE SPENT LAST YEAR
ON AMERICAN BASES TO INCREASE
THE PRODUCTION OF IRON DOME
BATTERIES AND INTERCEPTORS.
[APPLAUSE]
NOT LONG AGO, I WOULD HAVE HAD
TO DESCRIBE TO AN AUDIENCE WHAT
IRON DOME WAS, HOW IT WOULD
WORK, WHY FUNDING IT MATTERED.
I DO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO
ANYBODY ANYMORE.
EVERYBODY GETS IT.
EVERYBODY SAW.
THE WORLD SAW FIRSTHAND WHY IT
WAS AND REMAINED SO CRITICAL.
FOR TOO LONG, WHEN THOSE SIRENS
BLARED IN THE STREETS AND THE
CITIES BORDERING GAZA, THE ONLY
DEFENSE HAD BEEN A BOMB SHELTER, BUT LATE LAST YEAR,
IRON DOME MADE A DIFFERENCE.
WHEN THE LAUNCHED ROCKETS RAINED
ON ISRAEL, IRON DOME SHOT THEM
OUT OF THE SKY INTERCEPTING
NEARLY 400 ROCKETS IN NOVEMBER
ALONE.
IT WAS OUR UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP
-- ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES
-- THAT PIONEERED THIS
TECHNOLOGY AND FUNDED IT, AND IT
IS IN THAT SAME SPIRIT THAT WE
ARE WORKING WITH ISRAEL TO JOIN
AND DEVELOP NEW SYSTEMS CALLED
ARROW AND DAVID'S SLING,
INTERCEPTORS THAT CAN DEFEAT
LONG-RANGE THREATS FROM IRAN
SYRIA, AND HEZBOLLAH EQUALLY AS
URGENT. [APPLAUSE]
WE ARE WORKING TO DEPLOY A
POWERFUL NEW RADAR NETWORKED
WITH AMERICAN EARLY-WARNING
SATELLITES THAT CAN BUY ISRAEL
VALUABLE TIME IN THE EVENT OF
AN ATTACK.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO TO ENSURE
ISRAEL CAN COUNTER AND DEFEAT
ANY THREAT FROM ANY CORNER.
[APPLAUSE] BUT THAT IS ONLY THE FIRST
PIECE OF THIS EQUATION.
LET ME TELL YOU AND I EXPECT I
SHARE THE VIEW OF MANY OF YOU
THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH
AIPAC FOR A LONG TIME. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WORRIES ME
THE WORST, WHAT WORRIES MORE
THAN ANYTIME IN THE 40 YEARS I
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND IS
DIFFERENT THAN ANY TIME IN MY
CAREER AND THAT IS THE WHOLESALE SEEMINGLY COORDINATED EFFORT TO
DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL AS A JEWISH
STATE. THAT IS THE SINGLE MOST
DANGEROUS, PERNICIOUS CHANGE
THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, IN M HUMBLE OPINION, SINCE I HAVE
BEEN ENGAGED.
[APPLAUSE]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT
MATTERS. IT MATTERS.
TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, THERE IS ONLY
ONE NATION, ONLY ONE NATION IN
THE WORLD THAT HAS
UNEQUIVOCALLY WITHOUT HESITATION AND CONSISTENTLY CONFRONTED THE
EFFORTS TO DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL.
AT EVERY POINT IN OUT
ADMINISTRATIVE, AT EVERY
JUNCTURE, WE HAVE STOOD UP ON
THE LEGITIMACY ON BEHALF OF LEGITIMACY OF THE STATE OF
ISRAEL.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS BEEN A
BULWARK AGAINST THOSE INSIDIOUS
EFFORTS IN EVERY STEP OF THE
WORLD. WHEREVER HE GOES IN THE WORLD
HE MAKES CLEAR THAT ALTHOUGH HE
WANTS BETTER RELATIONS WITH
MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRIES
ISRAEL'S LEGITIMACY AND OUR
SUPPORT FOR IT IS NOT A MATTER
OF DEBATE. [APPLAUSE]
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF DEBATE.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS SIMPLE, AND HE MEANS IT.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF DEBATE.
DO NOT RAISE IT WITH US.
IT IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.
AS RECENTLY AS LAST YEAR THE
ONLY COUNTRY ON THE UNITED
NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO
VOTE AGAINST -- I THINK IT IS
36 COUNTRIES.
DO NOT HOLD ME THE EXACT NUMBER.
THE ONLY COUNTRY ON THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL OF THE UNITED
NATIONS TO VOTE AGAINST THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FACT-FINDING
MISSION ON SETTLEMENTS WAS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE OPPOSED THE UNILATERAL
EFFORTS OF THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY'S TO CIRCUMVENT
DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BY PUSHING
FOR STATEHOOD AND MULTILATERAL
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE UNESCO. WE STOOD STRONG WITH ISRAEL AND
ITS RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AFTER
A GALLSTONE REPORT WAS ISSUED IN
2009 WHILE THE REST OF THE
WORLD, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR GOOD FRIENDS, WERE PREPARED TO
EMBRACE THE REPORT. WE CAME OUT STRAIGHTFORWARDLY
EXPRESSED OUR CONCERN AND WITH
RECOMMENDATION. WHEN ISRAEL WAS ISOLATED IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THE GAZA FLOTILLA
IN 2012, I WAS IN AFRICA. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE
PHONE.
EHUD AND -- THE DEFENSE
MINISTER AND I AND BB AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT
PHONE WITH MY INTERCEDING GOING
TO THE UNITED NATIONS DIRECTLY
BY TELEPHONE, SPEAKING WITH THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL, MAKING SURE THAT ONE THING WAS MADE CLEAR.
ISRAEL HAD THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE
THAT BLOCKADE.
[APPLAUSE]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS
WHY I REFUSE TO ATTEND EVENTS
SUCH AS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF
2001 WORLD CONFERENCE ON RACISM
THAT SHAMEFULLY EQUATED ZIONISM
WITH RACISM.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT IS WHY WE REJECTED ANTI-
SEMITIC RHETORIC FROM ANY
CORNER AND FROM LEADERS OF ANY NATION, AND THAT IS WHY I AM
PROUD TO SAY MY FRIEND, THE NEW
SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY
SPOKE OUT AGAINST THAT KIND OF
LANGUAGE IN ANKARA JUST THIS
FRIDAY.
[APPLAUSE]
BY THE WAY, HE IS A GOOD MAN.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH
KERRY.
IT WAS IN THE STRONGEST TERMS
THAT WE VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED THE
PALESTINIAN BID FOR NONMEMBER
OBSERVER STATUS IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO OPPOSE ANY EFFORTS TO
ESTABLISH A STATE OF PALESTINE
THROUGH UNILATERAL ACTIONS.
THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO PEACE.
THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO FACE-
TO-FACE NEGOTIATIONS. THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO
GUARANTEES MADE LOOKING IN THE
EYES OF THE OTHER PARTY. LADIES AND GENTLEMAN ISRAEL'S
OWN LEADERS CURRENTLY
UNDERSTAND THE IMPERATIVE OF
PEACE.
PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
DEFENSE MINISTER BARAK
PRESIDENT PERES, THEY HAVE ALL
CALLED FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION
AND AN ABSOLUTE SECURE
DEMOCRATIC AND JEWISH STATE OF
ISRAEL THAT LIVE SIDE-BY-SIDE
AN IMPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE
BUT IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO, AND
THE REST OF THE ARAB WORLD HAS
TO GET IN THE GAME.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT
HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO
ACHIEVE. EVEN SOME OF YOU IN THE
AUDIENCE SAID, WHY DO WE ABOUT
TALK IT ANYMORE?
WELL, IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE
HARD STEPS ON BOTH SIDES, BUT
IT IS IN ALL OF OUR INTERESTS
-- ISRAEL'S INTEREST, THE
UNITED STATES' INTEREST, THE
INTEREST OF THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE. WE ALL HAVE A PROFOUND INTEREST
IN PEACE, SO TO USE AN
EXPRESSION OF A FORMER
PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON, WE HAVE
GOT TO BE CAUGHT TRYING.
WE HAVE GOT TO BE CAUGHT
TRYING, SO WE REMAIN DEEPLY
ENGAGED.
AS PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SAID,
WHILE THERE ARE THOSE WHO
QUESTION WHETHER THIS GOAL MAY
EVER BE REACHED, WE MAKE NO
APOLOGIES FOR CONTINUE TO
PURSUE THAT GOAL TO PURSUE A BETTER FUTURE, AND HE WILL MAKE
THAT CLEAR WHEN HE GOES TO
ISRAEL LATER THIS MONTH.
WE ARE ALSO MINDFUL THAT
PURSUING A BETTER FUTURE FOR
ISRAEL MEANS HELPING ISRAEL
CONFRONT THE MYRIADS OF THREATS
IT FACES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS A TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD AND
IT STARTS WITH IRAN.
IT IS NOT ONLY IN ISRAEL'S
INTEREST, AND EVERYBODY SHOULD
-- IT IS NOT ONLY IN ISRAEL'S
INTEREST THAT IRAN DOES NOT
ACQUIRE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.
IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS SIMPLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS IN
THE INTEREST OF THE ENTIRE
WORLD.
[APPLAUSE]
IRAN'S ACQUISITION OF A NUCLEAR
WEAPON NOT ONLY WOULD PRESENT
AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO ISRAEL,
IT WOULD PRESENT A THREAT TO
OUR ALLIES AND OUR PARTNERS AND
TO THE UNITED STATES, AND IT
WOULD TRIGGER AN ARMS RACE -- A
NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE REGION
AND MAKE THE WORLD A WHOLE LOT
LESS STABLE.
WE HAVE A SHARED STRATEGIC
COMMITMENT.
LET ME MAKE CLEAR WHAT THAT
COMMITMENT IS.
IT IS TO PREVENT IRAN FROM
ACQUIRING A NUCLEAR WEAPON,
PERIOD.
END OF DISCUSSION.
PERIOD. TO PREVENT, NOT CONTAIN
PREVENT.
[APPLAUSE]
THE PRESIDENT FLATLY STATED
THAT, AS MANY OF YOU IN THIS
ROOM HAVE HEARD ME SAY, AND HE
ALWAYS KIDS ME ABOUT THIS.
WE WILL BE IN THE SECURITY
ROOM AND I KNOW THAT DEBBIE
WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ KNOWS THIS
BECAUSE SHE HEARS IT.
HE ALWAYS SAYS, YOU KNOW HE
WILL TURN TO OTHER PEOPLE AND
SAY, AS JOE WOULD SAY, BIG
NATIONS CANNOT BLUFF.
BIG NATIONS CANNOT BLUFF.
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
CANNOT AND DO NOT BLUFF.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS NOT
BLUFFING.
[APPLAUSE]
HE IS NOT BLUFFING.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR WAR.
WE ARE LOOKING TO AND READY TO
NEGOTIATE PEACEFULLY, BUT ALL
OPTIONS INCLUDING MILITARY
FORCE ARE ON THE TABLE, BUT AS I
MADE CLEAR AT THE MUNICH
SECURITY CONFERENCE LAST MONTH
OUR STRONG PREFERENCE -- THE
WORLD'S PREFERENCE -- IS FOR A
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, SO WHILE
THAT WINDOW IS CLOSING WE
BELIEVE THERE IS STILL TIME AND
SPACE TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOME.
WE ARE IN CONSTANT DIALOGUE,
SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE
ISRAELI MILITARY, THE ISRAELI
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE ISRAELI
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT AT EVERY
LEVEL.
WE ARE TAKING ALL OF THE STEPS
REQUIRED TO GET THERE, BUT I
WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO YOU
SOMETHING -- GOD FORBID THE
NEED TO ACT OCCURS, IT IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE
WHOLE WORLD TO KNOW WE DID
EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER.
WE DID EVERYTHING THAT
REASONABLY COULD HAVE BEEN
EXPECTED TO AVOID ANY
CONFRONTATIONS.
THAT MATTERS BECAUSE GOD FORBID
IF WE HAVE TO ACT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE REST OF THE
WORLD IS WITH US.
WE HAVE A UNITED INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE]
WE HAVE A UNITED INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY RIGHT BEHIND THESE
UNPRECEDENTED SANCTIONS.
WE HAVE LEFT IRAN MORE ISOLATED
THAT EVER.
WHEN WE CAME TO OFFICE, AS YOU
REMEMBER, NOT BECAUSE OF THE
LAST ADMINISTRATION, JUST A
REALITY, IRAN WAS ON THE
ASCENDANCY IN THE REGION.
IT IS NO LONGER ON THE
ASCENDANCY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESSURE IS
NOT TO PUNISH.
IT IS TO CONVINCE IRAN TO MAKE
GOOD ON ITS INTERNATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS.
PUT SIMPLY, WE ARE SHARPENING A
CHOICE THAT THE IRANIAN LEADERSHIP HAS TO MAKE.
THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OBLIGATION
TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND
GIVE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
IRONCLAD CONFIDENCE IN THE
NATURE OF THEIR PROGRAM OR THEY
CAN CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH THAT
THEY ARE ON TO FURTHER ISOLATE
AND MOUNTING PRESSURE OF THE
WORLD, BUT EVEN PREVENTING IRAN
FROM ACQUIRING A NUCLEAR WEAPON
STILL LEAVES THEM A DANGEROUS
NEIGHBOR, PARTICULARLY TO
ISRAEL.
THEY ARE USING TERRORIST
PROXIES TO SPREAD VIOLENCE IN
THE REGION AND BEYOND REGION
PUTTING ISRAELIS, AMERICANS
CITIZENS OF EVERY CONTINENT IN
DANGER.
FOR TOO LONG HEZBOLLAH HAS
TRIED TO POSE AS NOTHING MORE
THAN A POLITICAL AND SOCIAL
WELFARE GROUP WHILE PLOTTING
AGAINST INNOCENCE IN EASTERN
EUROPE, FROM EASTERN EUROPE TO
EAST AFRICA, SOUTHEAST ASIA TO
SOUTH AMERICA.
WE KNOW WHAT ISRAEL KNOWS.
HEZBOLLAH IS A TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION.
PERIOD.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE URGING EVERY NATION IN
THE WORLD THAT WE DEAL WITH --
AND WE DEAL WITH THEM ALL -- TO
START TREATING HEZBOLLAH AS SUCH
AND NAMING THEM AS TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT A THREAT
TO ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS ABOUT GLOBAL TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TARGETS
PEOPLE ON SEVERAL CONTINENTS.
WE WILL SAY AND WE WILL DO OUR
PART TO STOP THAT, AND WE ASK
THE WORLD TO DO THE SAME.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
TO OUR FRIENDS IN EUROPE TO
FORCEFULLY DECLARE HEZBOLLAH A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.
THIS PAST MONTH, I HAVE MADE
THE CASE TO THE LEADING EUROPEAN
HEADS OF STATE, AS BARAK AND
ISRAELIS KNOW, TOGETHER, WE HAVE
TO CONTINUE TO CONFRONT
HEZBOLLAH WHEREVER IT SOWS THE
SEEDS OF HATRED AND STANDS
AGAINST THE NATIONS THAT
SPONSORED CAMPAIGNS OF TERROR.
LADIES AND GENTLE, THE UNITED
STATES AND ISRAEL HAVE A SHARED
INTEREST IN SYRIA AS WELL.
ASSAD HAS SHOWN HIS FATHER'S
DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE AND
DIGNITY, ENGAGING IN THE BRUTAL
MURDER OF HIS CITIZENS.
OUR POSITION ON THAT TRAGEDY
CANNOT BE CLEARER -- ASSAD MUST
GO, BUT WE ARE NOT SIGNING UP
FOR ONE MURDEROUS GANG REPLACING
ANOTHER IN DAMASCUS.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT IS WHY OUR FOCUS IS ON
SUPPORTING LEGITIMATE
OPPOSITION NOT ONLY COMMITTED TO
A PEACEFUL SYRIA BUT TO A PEACEFUL REGION.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE CAREFULLY
VETTING THOSE TO WHOM WE
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS WHY WHILE PUTTING
RELENTLESS PRESSURE ON ASSAD AND
SANCTIONING THE PRO-REGIME
IRANIAN-BACK MILITIA, WE HAVE
ALSO DESIGNATED AL-NUSRA
UPFRONT AS A TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION AND BECAUSE WE
RECOGNIZE THE GRAVE DANGER OF
ASSAD'S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
ARSENAL POSE TO ISRAEL AND THE
UNITED STATES AND THE WHOLE
WORLD, WE HAVE SET A CLEAR RED
LINE AGAINST THE USE AND THE
TRANSFER OF THOSE WEAPONS, AND
WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT
THIS CONFLICT AND THESE
HORRIFIC WEAPONS FROM
THREATENING ISRAEL'S SECURITY.
WHILE WE TRY TO ENSURE AN END
TO THE DICTATORSHIP IN SYRIA
WE HAVE SUPPORTED AND WILL
SUPPORT A GENUINE TRANSITION TO
AN EGYPTIAN DEMOCRACY.
WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS.
WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS WILL
BE AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.
THERE HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A
DRAMATIC CHANGE IN EGYPT.
A LOT OF IT HAS GIVEN US HOPE
AND A LOT IF IT HAS GIVEN US
PAUSE AND A LOT OR IT HAS
CAUSED FEARS IN OTHER QUARTERS.
IT IS NOT ABOUT US BUT IT
PROFOUNDLY AFFECTS US. WE NEED TO BE INVESTED IN
EGYPT'S SUCCESS AND STABILITY.
A STABLE, SUCCESSFUL EGYPT WILL
TRANSLATE INTO A STABLE REGION.
WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN EGYPT THROUGH
ROSE-COLORED GLASSES.
AGAIN, OUR EYES ARE WIDE OPEN.
WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, BUT WE
ALSO KNOW THIS -- THERE'S NO
LEGITIMATE ALTERNATIVE, AT THIS
POINT, TO ENGAGEMENT.
ONLY THROUGH ENGAGEMENT THAT
WITH EGYPT THAT WE CAN FOCUS
EGYPT'S LEADERS ON THE NEED TO
REPAIR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
-- RESPECT INTERNATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING AND
ESPECIALLY ITS PEACE TREATY WITH
ISRAEL. IT IS ONLY THROUGH ACTIVE
ENGAGEMENT THAT WE CAN HELP
ENSURE THAT HAMAS DOES NOT REARM
THROUGH THE SINAI AND PUT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AT RISK.
IT IS ONLY THROUGH ENGAGEMENT
THAT WE CAN CONCENTRATE EGYPT'S
GOVERNMENT ON THE IMPERATIVE OF
CONFRONTING EXTREMISTS, AND IT
IS ONLY THROUGH ENGAGEMENT THAT
WE CAN ENCOURAGE EGYPT'S LEADERS
TO MAKE REFORMS THAT WILL SPARK
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STABILIZE
THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND IT
IS ALL TOUGH, AND THERE IS NO
CERTAINTY.
THERE IS NO CERTITUDE ABOUT ANYTHING IN THE ARAB SPRING.
I EXPECT PRESIDENT OBAMA TO
COVER EACH OF THESE ISSUES IN
MUCH GREATER DETAIL.
I HAVE LEARNED ONE THING, AS I
WAS TELLING THE PRESIDENT.
I LEARNED, IT IS NEVER A GOOD
IDEA, EHUD, TO STEAL THE
PRESIDENT'S THUNDER.
IT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO SAY
WHAT HE IS GOING TO SAY THE NEXT
DAY, SO I AM NOT GOING TO ANY FURTHER DETAIL ON THIS, BUT MUCH
GREATER DETAIL -- HE WILL
DISCUSS THIS WHEN HE GOES TO
ISRAEL LATER THIS MONTH, JUST
BEFORE PASSOVER BEGINS.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, I AM A LITTLE
JEALOUS THAT HE GETS TO BE THE
ONE TO SAY "THIS YEAR IN
JERUSALEM" BUT I AM THE VICE
PRESIDENT.
I AM NOT THE PRESIDENT.
[APPLAUSE] WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT, I AM NOT
SURE HE THOUGHT I WAS SERIOUS OR
NOT BUT ANYWAY.
[LAUGHTER]
AND IT WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE
TO YOU, THE PRESIDENT AND I NOT
ONLY ARE PARTNERS, WE'VE BECOME
FRIENDS AND HE AND I HAVE
SPOKEN AT LENGTH ABOUT THIS TRIP
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU HE IS
PARTICULARLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A CHANCE TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND
BEYOND THEIR POLITICAL LEADERS
AND PARTICULARLY THE YOUNGER
GENERATION OF ISRAELIS AN I MUST NOTE, JUST AS I'M GETTING A
CHANCE TO SPEAK TO 2,000 YOUNG
AMERICAN JEWS INVOLVED AND
COMMITTED TO THE STATE OF
ISRAEL AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE UNITED STATES, HE IS AS
ANXIOUS TO DO WHAT I GOT A CHANCE TO DO WHEN I WAS THERE
LAST, EHUD, WITH YOU AS YOU FLEW
ME ALONG THE LINE.
I GOT TO GO TO TEL AVIV
UNIVERSITY AND SPEAK TO SEVERAL
THOUSAND YOUNG ISRAELIS.
THE VIBRANCY, THE OPTIMISM THE
ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT IS
CONTAGIOUS, AND HE IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO SEEING IT AND
FEELING IT AND TASTING IT.
THE PRESIDENT LOOKS FORWARD TO
HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEIR
HOPES AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS
ABOUT THEIR ASTONISHING WORLD- LEADING TECHNOLOGICAL
ACHIEVEMENTS, ABOUT THE FUTURE
THEY ENVISION FOR THEMSELVES AND
FOR THEIR COUNTRY, ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT THE WORLD THEY FACE IS
FROM THE ONE THEIR PARENTS
FACED, EVEN IF MANY OF THE
THREATS ARE THE SAME. THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENT TO HAVE AND TO HEAR AND FOR THEM
TO HEAR.
THESE ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I GET KIDDED -- AGAIN, TO QUOTE
DEBBIE AS SHE KIDS ME SOMETIMES. EVERYBODY QUOTES -- DEMOCRAT
AND REPUBLICAN -- QUOTES TIP
O'NEILL SAYING, ALL POLITICS IS
LOCAL.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LONNIE I
THINK THAT IS NOT RIGHT.
I THINK ALL POLITICS IS PERSONAL
AND I MEAN IT. ALL POLITICS IS PERSONAL AND IT
IS BUILDING PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST AND EXPOSURE, TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT
REALLY MATTERS, PARTICULARLY IN
FOREIGN POLICY, SO LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, LET ME END WHERE I
BEGAN, BY REAFFIRMING OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
IT IS NOT ONLY A LONG-STANDING
MORAL COMMITMENT, IT IS A STRATEGIC COMMITMENT.
AN INDEPENDENT ISRAEL, SECURE IN
ITS OWN BORDERS, RECOGNIZED BY THE WORLD IS IN THE PRACTICAL
STRATEGIC INTEREST OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
I USED TO SAY WHEN I -- LONNIE'S
BROTHER USED TO SAY, IF THERE
WERE NO ISRAEL, WE WOULD HAVE
TO INVENT ONE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ALSO
KNOW THAT IT IS CRITICAL TO
REMIND EVERY GENERATION OF
AMERICANS, AS YOU ARE DOING
WITH YOUR CHILDREN HERE TODAY,
IT IS CRITICAL TO REMIND OUR
CHILDREN MY CHILDREN, YOUR
CHILDREN -- THAT IS WHY THE
FIRST TIME I EVER TOOK THE THREE
OF MY CHILDREN SEPARATELY TO
EUROPE, THE FIRST PLACE I TOOK THEM WAS DACHAU.
WE FLEW TO MUNICH AND WENT TO
DACHAU. THE FIRST THING THEY EVER DID
AS ANNETTE WILL REMEMBER BECAUSE
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A NEVER-
ENDING REQUIREMENT. THE PRESERVATION OF AN
INDEPENDENT JEWISH STATE IS THE
ULTIMATE GUARANTOR. IT IS THE ONLY CERTAIN
GUARANTOR OF FREEDOM AND
SECURITY FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD. [APPLAUSE]
THAT WAS MOST POIGNANTLY POINTED
OUT TO ME WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
SENATOR MAKING MY FIRST TRIP TO ISRAEL.
I HAD THE GREAT, GREAT HONOR --
AND THAT IS NOT HYPERBOLE -- OF
GETTING TO MEET FOR THE FIRST
TIME AND SUBSEQUENTLY -- I MET HER BEYOND THAT -- GOLDA MEIR.
SHE WAS THE PRIME MINISTER.
NOW, I AM SURE EVERY KID UP
THERE SAID, YOU CANNOT BE THAT OLD, SENATOR.
I HOPE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING, BUT SERIOUSLY, THE FIRST TRIP I EVER MADE -- Y'ALL KNOW
THOSE DOUBLE DOORS -- YOU GO IN
THE OFFICE -- AND THE BLOND
FURNITURE AND THE DESK ON THE LEFT SIDE, IF MY MEMORY SERVES
ME CORRECTLY AND GOLDA MEIR, AS THE PRIME MINISTER AND DEFENSE
MINISTER, SHE HAD THOSE MAPS
BEHIND HER THAT -- YOU KNOW,
YOU COULD PULL DOWN ALL THOSE
MAPS LIKE YOU HAD IN GEOGRAPHY
CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SHE
SAT BEHIND HER DESK, AND I SAT
IN THE CHAIR IN FRONT OF HER
DESK, AND A YOUNG MAN WAS
SITTING TO MY RIGHT WHO WAS HER
ASSISTANT. HIS NAME WAS YITZHAK RABIN.
[LAUGHTER] SERIOUSLY, THAT IS A TRUE STORY
AND SHE SAT THERE CHAIN-SMOKING
AND READING LETTERS, READING
LETTERS TO ME, LETTERS FROM THE
FRONT IN THE SIX-DAY WAR. SHE READ THE LETTERS ABOUT AND
THEN TOLD ME HOW THIS YOUNG MAN
OR WOMAN HAD DIED AND MISSED
HER FAMILY.
AND THIS WENT ON FOR I DO NOT
KNOW HOW LONG.
I GUESS SHE COULD TELL I WAS
VISIBLY MOVED BY THIS AND I WAS
GETTING DEPRESSED ABOUT IT AND
SHE SUDDENLY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID SHE LOOKED AT ME, SHE SAID,
SENATOR, WOULD YOU LIKE A PHOTO
OPPORTUNITY?
[LAUGHTER]
AND I LOOKED AT HER, I SAID,
WELL, YES, MADAM PRIME MINISTER,
AND WE WALK OUT THOSE DOORS, WE
STOOD THERE. NO STATEMENTS AND WE ARE
STANDING NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER
LOOK AT THIS ARRAY OF MEDIA, TELEVISION AND PHOTOJOURNALISTS,
SNAPPING PICTURES.
WE ARE LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD. WITHOUT LOOKING AT ME, SHE
SPEAKS TO ME, SHE SAID, SENATOR,
DO NOT LOOK SO SAD. SHE SAID, WE HAVE A SECRET
WEAPON. WE HAVE A SECRET WEAPON IN OUR
CONFRONTATION IN THIS PART OF
THE WORLD, AND I THOUGHT SHE'S
ABOUT TO LEAN OVER AND TELL ME
ABOUT A SYSTEM OR SOMETHING. YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE.
I STILL HAVE THEM.
I TURN TO LOOK AT HER -- YOU KNOW, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND I
SAID, MADAM PRIME MINISTER --
SHE NEVER TURNED HER HEAD, KEPT
LOOKING -- SHE SAID, OUR SECRET
WEAPON, SENATOR, IS WE HAVE NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.
WE HAVE NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.
[APPLAUSE]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR JOB
IS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ALWAYS
A PLACE TO GO, THAT THERE IS
ALWAYS AN ISRAEL, THAT THERE IS
ALWAYS A SECURE ISRAEL, AND
THERE IS AN ISRAEL THAT CAN CARE FOR ITSELF.
MY FATHER WAS RIGHT.
YOU ARE RIGHT.
IT IS THE ULTIMATE GUARANTOR OF
"NEVER AGAIN." GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND MAY GOD
PROTECT OUR TROOPS. THANK YOU.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE]
[CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL
CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2013]
>> ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ADDRESSED THE
ANNUAL AIPAC CONFERENCE ON
MONDAY LIVE BY SATELLITE FROM
ISRAEL.
THIS IS ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, ROSIE AND THANK YOU
HOWARD, MICHAEL, ROBERT, ALL THE LEADERSHIP OF AIPAC. THANK
YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO
STRENGTHENING THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN GREAT ISRAEL AND THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
FRIEND, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN.
HE JUST SPOKE THERE, AND I HAVE
TO SAY THAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER
THE YEARS SO MUCH FROM JOE.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS [NO AUDIO]
-- FAMILIES ARE ABOUT FROM JOE
BIDEN.
I LEARNED ABOUT HIS FATHER.
AND OURS ARE SO SIMILAR, DEEPLY
GROUNDED IN VALUES, AND I JUST
HEARD THOSE VALUES EXPRESSED.
I WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE -- AND
I AM SURE YOU WILL ALL JOIN ME
IN RECOGNIZING -- THE DEFENSE MINISTER BARAK, WHO I HAVE SENT