(washingtonJewishweek). President Barack Obama courted a group of more than 900 rabbis this afternoon, assuring them that the U.S.-Israel alliance is stronger then ever, according to multiple participants and audio of the conversation.
The conference call -- which was coordinated by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to coincide with the start of the Jewish holidays -- lasted about thirty minutes and included rabbis from across the spectrum.
Obama restated that:
"a vote in the [United Nations] will not create a two-state solution."
"Prime Minister Netanyahu knows he can count on the United States,We will not abandon the pursuit of a just and lasting peace that will end the conflict."
"The bonds between the U.S. and Israel are unbreakable and the commitment of the security of Israel is ironclad. Since coming into office, I haven't just talked the talk, we've walked the walk."
Dishing up the pro-Israel red meat to the rabbis, the president added that:
"There's never been a stronger security integration then there is right now,I'm very proud of this record."
Asked about the instability in Egypt and what the U.S. can do to ensure Israel's safety, Obama indicated that a re-ignition of the peace process could cool down the region.
"The most important thing we can do to stabilize the strategic situation for Israel is if we can actually resolve the Palestinian-Israeli crisis because that's what feeds so much of the tumult in Egypt,That's what I think has created the deep tension between Turkey and Israel and Turkey has historically been a friend and ally of Israel's. That's why we think direct negotiations are so critical."
The president added that "the U.S. relationship with Egypt is centered on their maintaining strong communications and maintaining the peace arrangement with Israel, and they've gotten the message."
The threat Iran poses to Israel also came up during the conversation.
"The biggest threat Israel faces from a security perspective is Iran's nuclear program."
