In front of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Republican (AIPAC), during its annual meeting held at Washington’s Verizon Center, the two presidentiables had their chance to speak of a similar goal, to pledge their support to the troubled Jewish community.
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Saying that Iran funds terrorist organizations around the world, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and Palestinian groups inside Israel, Netanyahu said the Islamic Republic “remains fully committed to genocide – our genocide”.
Palestinians have cited Israeli settlement activity as one of the factors behind the collapse of US-brokered peace talks in 2014, and a surge of violence over the past five months has dimmed hopes negotiations could be revived any time soon.
Other Republican nominees spoke at the conference yesterday, as well as Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton, who slammed Trump for commiting to “neutrality” on the issue of Israel and Palestine. The decision came amid ongoing tensions between Netanyahu and Obama; the relationship between the two leaders never fully recovered after Obama pursued and then agreed to the Iran nuclear deal, according to the Associated Press. She sought to distance herself somewhat from Obama when she said that she would “vigorously oppose” a unilateral solution put forth by the U.N. Security Council, an option that the President is said to be exploring. Trump said to perhaps the most sustained applause of his speech, “He may be the worst thing to ever happen to Israel, believe me”.
“With President Obama in his final year – yeah!”
Even if you’re a big fan of Clinton, it’s hard to imagine how bellicose support (and not a smidgen of criticism) for the more powerful entity in the conflict will bring peace. “And you know it, and you know it better than anybody”.
During a campaign stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sanders reportedly called for an end to Israel’s “disproportionate responses” to Palestinian attacks, adding that attacks on Israelis are “unacceptable”.
Clinton earlier packed the arena, where she implored the crowd: “If you see a bully, stand up to him”.
Throughout the speech Trump touted his deal-making abilities and reminded the crowd that he is leading in every poll, asserting that he will be elected president of the United States.
It is highly unusual for the organisation – which routinely invites presidential candidates to address it during election years – to criticise comments made by an invitee.
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Clinton also indirectly criticized her opponent for the Democratic nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, by saying that the USA must maintain its leadership role in the Middle East and elsewhere.
