Washington-U.S.A. President Barack Obamba this morning gave two clear messages to the 14,0000 delegates attending the of the America Israel Political Action Committee(AIPAC) conference in Washington, D.C.  First, he resassured Israel and the delegates that U.S. support for Israel is now stronger than ever. 

Obviously attempting to put behind him criticism levelled against him and his administration in the last two years about his less-than-warm reception for Prime Minister Netanyahu's interal policies with regard to the settlement issues, he stated unequivocally, "Judge me not by my statements--judge me by my deeds." He then cited a litanty of his policy actions at the United Nations and elsewhere and the current $3.1 billion that he allocated for Israel aid in his current (recessionary) budget as support for the proposition that his government is strongly behind Israel.

Second, he left a clear warning to Iran.  "I dont' have a containment policy," he said, "I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."  He followed that statement immediately with an assurance that no options have been taken off the table, including military options, as well as a statement that he would stand behind Israel's decision to determine its own decisions and actions on the best means of protecting itself from the Iranian threat.

President Obama's speech this morning was preceded by a heartfelt tribute to, and then a sincere presentation by, Israell President Shimon Peres.  He started by recalling his Zaida's last words to him on the train platform when he, as an eleven year old boy, was leaving Poland for (then) Palestine prior to the oncoming holocaust: "My son, I have one request for you. Be Jewish. Don`t give up." His Zaida was subsequently forced into a wooden synagogue with others of his village, that was then torched by the Nazis.

He followed by giving observations of his experiences working with every U.S. President in the past 50 years, and with reinforcing the need to continue working for peace without ever losing the fact that some peoples and some nations do not share the same objectives.

Despite the obvious political nature of a Political Action Committee event, there was a strong message that the politcs of Jewish support for Israel within the United States is non-partisan--that it is everyone's best interest to ensure that the symbiotic relationship between Israel and the U.S.A. continues and is reinforced, and that support for Israel should be unequivocal, regardless of political stripe. Good message, especially in an election year.   Tuesday the 14,000 delegates will be tasked with lobbying the senators and congressmen in a massive door-knocking campaign.

More complete story to follow.

Editor's note: Readers may find this of interest:

Erekat: PA disappointed by Obama speech
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=465347

PLO official Saeb Erekat said Monday that the
Palestinian Authority was disappointed with US President Barack Obama's
recent speech at an AIPAC conference.

"This speech is part of Obama’s election campaign," Erekat told Ma'an.

"Unfortunately, the speech ignored the requirements for peace as it did not
touch on urging Israel to accept the two-state solution, halt settlement
activities, and stop imposing facts on the ground."