US House of Representatives Speaker John
Boehner says the U.S. commitment to Israel should be stronger now as the
American ally faces challenges to its existence in the volatile Middle
East.
In an address Sunday to the Jewish National Fund conference in
Cincinnati, the Ohio Republican dismissed suggestions that Israel has
isolated itself and he argued that the Jewish state stands above others
as the "one true beacon of freedom and opportunity" in the region.
The U.S., he said, must stand by Israel's side "not just as a broker or observer - but as a strong partner and reliable ally."
A text of Boehner's address was made available in advance.
Boehner's remarks come on the eve of the U.N. General Assembly
session in New York, which is shaping up as a difficult diplomatic
period for Israel.
The Palestinian Authority intends to seek recognition of
statehood despite a threat of a U.S. veto in the Security Council and
the strong objections of the United States and Israel.
Boehner's speech comes amid renewed attention to President
Barack Obama's policies toward Israel. Republicans say the president
isn't forceful enough on behalf of Israel, and political questions have
been raised on whether the Republicans can capitalize on the discontent
and make inroads with Jewish voters.
Last Tuesday, Republican Bob Turner scored a surprising win in a
historically Democratic New York congressional district in part because
of complaints about Obama's Mideast policies. The district also has a
large concentration of Orthodox Jews.
In May, Obama called for Israel's 1967 borders with mutually
agreed land swaps to serve as the starting point in Isreli-Palestinian
negotiations. That proposal was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.
Boehner, in his speech, did not mention Obama, but did recall
his invitation to Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, also
in May, and the message the prime minister delivered.
"The Americanpeople deserved to hear from him - and Washington,
quite frankly, needed to hear what he had to say," Boehner said. "I
invite the people in this room - and anyone as concerned as I am about
the future of Israel - to speak out. Washington needs to hear from you,
too."
Boehner said Israel has shown that it seks "nothing more than
peace ... a peace agreed to by the two states and only the two states."
The speaker said Netanyahu understands that peace will require
compromise.
