President Obama & Israel - The Facts

“We stand with Israel as a Jewish democratic state because we know that Israel is born of firmly held values that we, as Americans, share: a culture committed to justice, a land that welcomes the weary, a people devoted to tikkun olam…. So America’s commitment … and my commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is unshakeable. It is unshakeable…. I am proud to say that no U.S. administration has done more in support of Israel’s security than ours. None. Don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise. It is a fact.”  [Obama, December 16, 2011]

 

AIPAC issued a statement shortly before Rosh Hashanah thanking US leaders – President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner by name – for the “close and unshakeable partnership” between the United States and Israel. The statement said President Obama and Congress have “deepened America’s support for Israel” and taken US-Israel security cooperation to “unprecedented levels.” [AIPAC - September 17, 2012]

• Over $3 billion per year to assist Israel’s military to ensure it has the latest and most efficient technologies and weapons available; and
• $275 million in supplemental funding to develop the Iron Dome missile system, praised by Israel’s defense leaders for its “exceptional” success at saving the lives of Israelis who live under threat from Hamas’ rockets.
• Additional funding for the Arrow and David’s Sling missile systems, bringing the total funding for missile defense to $650 million -- double the amount spent by the Bush Administration.

• Signing the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Act;
• Selling Israel bunker busting bombs and F-35 fighter planes while fast-tracking arms sales;
• Committing American troops to the 2009 Juniper Cobra and 2012 Austere Challenge joint military exercises -- the largest and most extensive exercises ever with Israel;
• Authorizing Israel to use American weapons stored in Israel during an emergency; and
• Working with Israel to combat smuggling into Gaza.

• Forcefully opposed the Palestinians’ attempt to unilaterallydeclare a state;
• Rallied the world against a nuclear-armed Iran and continues to lead the sanctions effort by example;
• Voted with Israel 100% of the time at the United Nations, a first in modern history;
• Defended Israel’s legitimacy on the world stage, and vocally protested efforts to isolate Israel at the United Nations and in UN bodies;
• Consistently affirmed the U.S.-Israel bond; and
• Asserted Israel’s right to self-defense repeatedly – including against the Gaza flotilla.

• Answered Israel’s “3 am phone call” and personally intervened to rescue Israel’s diplomats in Cairo; and
• Personally ordered that Israel receive “whatever it need[ed]” to put out the Carmel fire.