AIPAC Roundup

Olmert - (Full Transcript)

"We must stop the Iranian threat by all possible means," he said.
"Each and every country must understand that the long-term cost of a nuclear Iran greatly outweighs the short-term benefits of doing business with Iran." (Haaretz)

McCain - (Full Transcript)

The unofficial Republican nominee called for tougher sanctions as a means of safeguarding Israel as well as promoting U.S. interests. Of the horrors of the Holocaust he had this to say: ”When we join in saying ‘never again,’ that is not a wish, a request, or a plea to the enemies of Israel. It is a promise that the U.S. and Israel will honor, against any enemy who cares to test us.” The crowd erupted in a standing ovation.

The Arizona senator, who coauthored the Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act in 1992, suggested limiting gasoline imports as well as specific sanctions on the regime’s leaders such as denying visas and freezing assets. To harm the leaders further, McCain also called for a “world-wide divestment campaign.”

“As more people, businesses, pension funds, and financial institutions across the world divest from companies doing business with Iran, the radical elite who run that country will become even more unpopular than they are already,” he said.

McCain said the responsibility falls first on the United Nations Security Council—but that the U.S. should be prepared to take action. “Should the Security Council continue to delay in this responsibility, the U.S. must lead like-minded countries in imposing multilateral sanctions outside the U.N. framework,” McCain said to applause from the large crowd. McCain said the U.S. specifically should impose financial sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran. (WSJ)

Hilary -

"I know that Senator Obama will be a good friend to Israel." (Haaretz)

Obama - (Full Transcript)

"Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided," Obama told the vast annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC).

"We must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and abide by past agreements. There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations."(AFP)

"I'll do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything," Obama told the pro-Israel lobby at a conference in Washington, only hours after securing his party's nomination.

The Illinois senator also vowed he would never compromise on Israel's security, especially "not while there are still groups who deny the holocaust, not when there are terrorist groups that are committed to Israel's destruction... Not while there are rockets raining down on Sderot."

"I will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself in the United Nations and around the world," he added. (Haaretz)

Rice -  (Full Transcript)

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice... stressed the urgency of establishing a Palestinian state, saying that the increase in violence in the Middle East makes the establishment of a peaceful Palestinian state more urgent rather than less.

Regarding the Iranian issue, Rice said "We would be willing to meet with them, but not while they continue to inch closer to a nuclear weapon under the cover of talk."
"Our partners in Europe and beyond need to exploit Iran's vulnerabilities more vigorously and impose greater costs on the regime - economically, financially, politically and diplomatically," she added. (Haaretz)