Obama's first Israel visit emphasizes 'bond'
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E-mail CRI, March 21, 2013
US President Barack Obama started his first visit to Israel as president on Wednesday. The trip is aimed at strengthening the US-Israel alliance.
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US President Barack Obama waves as he gets off Air Force One at Ben-Gurion International Airport in Israel on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Obama started his first visit to Israel as president on Wednesday. [Photo: CRI] |
Dubbed 'Unbreakable Alliance', Obama's trip has emphasized the bond between the two countries.
Israeli President Shimon Peres thanked Obama and the American people during the welcoming ceremony held at Ben-Gurion Airport for what they have done for Israelis, saying Obama's support for Israel is "unshakeable" no matter in times of peace or war.
"You enabled our security in an extraordinary way, to project strength, to strive for peace. Strengthening security is the best way to strengthen peace. We long to see an end to the conflict with the Palestinians ?C to see the Palestinians enjoying freedom and prosperity in their own state. We extend our hand in peace to all the countries in the Middle East."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expresses appreciation to Obama and the Americans for standing by Israel at the time of historic change in the Middle East, when the need for the US-Israel alliance is greater than ever concerning the instability and uncertainty in the region.
"It is the key to thwarting dangers and advancing peace; it's the key to achieve a stable and secure peace that the people of Israel yearn for all our neighbors and with all our hearts. We seek peace with our Palestinian neighbors. I look forward to working with you over the next four years to make the alliance between our two countries even stronger."
Obama, for his part, says it is no accident that the first trip of his second term is to Israel, as the two countries are both democracies that share a great deal in common, and the US stands firmly with Israel as its strongest alliance.
"I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations, to restate America's unbreakable commitment to Israel's security, and to speak directly to the people of Israel and your neighbors. The United States of America stands with the State of Israel because it is in our fundamental national security interest to stand with Israel. It makes us both stronger; it makes us both more prosperous; and it makes the world a better place."
He says peace must come to the Holy Land and he is confident that the US-Israel alliance is eternal and forever.
After being shown with the Iron Dome anti-rocket system at the airport, Obama took a helicopter to Jerusalem, where he had meetings with Peres and Netanyahu respectively.
At the following news conference, Obama and Netanyahu talked about Iran's nuclear issues, Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Although Obama prefers dealing with the Iranian nuclear issues in a diplomatic manner and investigating all the facts before taking actions for the Syria case, he is confident that Israel's security is guaranteed because it has a great deal on its side, including the support of the US.
"America's commitment to the security of the State of Israel is a solid obligation and the security of Israel is not negotiable. Today our military intelligence personnel cooperate more closely than ever before. America's support for Israel's security is unprecedented and the alliance between our nations has never been stronger."
As for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Obama says he will go to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet with President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas in order to get a better understanding of the opinions on both sides.
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