RAMALLAH, July 16 (JMCC) - The United States will continue to sustain
Israel’s military force, and protect the country in the diplomatic arena said US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice on Wednesday. The American commitment to Israel’s security she says is “not negotiable”.
Speaking during a reception for Israeli Ambassadors Gabriela Shalev and Daniel Carmon, held by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in New York, Rice said the United States of America remains fully and firmly committed to the peace and security of the State of Israel.
That commitment spans generations and political parties. It is not negotiable, and it never will be, Rice added, saying the United States would continue to strengthen Israel’s qualitative military advantage so that Israel can always defend itself, by itself, against any threat or possible combination of threats.
The U.S. UN envoy also reiterated the U.S. conviction to defend Israel in the diplomatic arena, saying that, as U.S. President Barack Obama] pledged, we will continue U.S. efforts to combat all international attempts to challenge the legitimacy of Israel—including and especially at the United Nations.
While public attention has focused on the fierce diplomatic disputes between Israel and the United States over settlement expansion in Palestinian territories, security and military ties between the two nations have grown ever closer during the Obama administration.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who has worked decades in Washington, believes we are cooperating on military-to-military relations in an unprecedented manner, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
Military relations were very close during the Bush administration, but in many ways the cooperation has been extended and perhaps enhanced in different areas during the Obama administration, a senior Israeli official acknowledged.
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