Morning Update: Obama, Clinton, Israel
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) both spoke before the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference Wednesday. Obama vowed to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapons capability and promised to ensure “Israel’s qualitative military advantage” by implementing what he called a “Memorandum of Understanding” that would grant Israel $30 billion over the next decade.
In her speech, Clinton said she opposes negotiating with the Palestinian group in control of Gaza, Hamas, until it renounces terror and recognizes Israel. She also said the United States should develop an “international consensus against Iran’s nuclear program with a set of tougher sanctions if Iran continues to defy the international community.”
Arab leaders responded unfavorably to Obama’s assertions about Jerusalem, al-Jazeera reports. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Obama’s comments on Israel proves “there will be no change in the U.S. administration’s foreign policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
