Last night, at a campaign fundraising event in New York City with Jewish donors, President Obama had this to say about his record regarding Israel:
I try not to pat myself too much on the back, but this administration has done more in terms of the security of the state of Israel than any previous administration. And that's not just our opinion, that's the opinion of the Israeli government. Whether it's making sure that our intelligence cooperation is effective, to making sure that we're able to construct something like an Iron Dome so that we don't have missiles raining down on Tel Aviv, we have been consistent in insisting that we don't compromise when it comes to Israel’s security. And that’s not just something I say privately, that’s something that I said in the U.N. General Assembly. And that will continue.
"The problem with the president is that he'll say anything to donors for the sake of a couple bucks," a pro-Israel insider tells me. "But fortunately most Americans aren't living on Mars--and they'll be aghast at the ridiculousness of the president's remarks."
A Democratic pro-Israel insider emails:
"Making the conscious choice to distance us from Israel, and blaming them for the failure to make progress toward peace, while putting no blame on the Palestinians whatsoever, has badly undermined Israel's position in the region, in the international community, and in the peace process, while emboldening their enemies.
"Not to mention that by walking away from written agreements we made with Israel, and denying the sheer existence of others, let alone threatening the entire bilateral relationship in a fit of presidential pique, this White House had badly damaged the trust that underpins the relationship.
"How can Israel count on the security relationship he is so anxious to tout if the president can so casually walk away from American understandings or just wake up and decide he's upset about something and tell them he's not sure we share the same interests or values anymore? Sort of undercuts his claims, don't you think?
"I'm guessing that if you asked folks in the Israeli government whether it's been worth it, a lot of them would say no, contrary to what the president himself seems to believe."
