Subscribe to our daily e-mail newsletter

E-mail:

Israel News Feed Or subscribe to our RSS feed | What is RSS?
Israel News from Jerusalem Newswire
America in the Middle East

Pelosi 'trusts all presidential contenders on Israel'


By Stan Goodenough
May 19, 2008

When it comes to how they will relate towards Israel if and when they get to the White House, US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi says she is sure all the presidential contenders will do "the right thing."

Pelosi, a Democrat, is best known in Israel for having flown into the region in April 2007, a few months after her ascension to what has been described as the second most powerful position in the United States, to meet with terrorist-sponsoring Damascus dictator Bashar el-Assad.

She is currently visiting Israel at the head of a delegation to mark the 60th anniversary of the rebirth of the Jewish state.

According to a columnist in the leftist Israeli daily Ha'aretz, Pelosi "has faith in both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the members of her own Democratic party who are chasing the presidency, and even the candidate from the opposing Republican party, John McCain. Everyone, everyone will support Israel."

The American also believes Israel will be around "forever."

In an exclusive interview to The Jerusalem Post, Pelosi sought to also address Israel's concerns about a nuclear-seeking Iran.

The speaker said Washington must assert to the rest of the world that if they want to be friends with America, they need to do more to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, said the Post.

Her solution to stopping the Iranian juggernaut is limited, however, to diplomacy. She will not brook a military response to the threat.

"[US President George W] Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran and I take him at his word," an Associated Press report quoted Pelosi as saying.

"At the same time, I do believe that Congress should assert itself, though, and make it very clear that there is no previous authority for the president, any president, to go into Iran."

As election year in the US gathers steam, many expect the Democrats - who already control Capitol Hill - to move into the White House early next year.

With their anti-Iraq-war and talk-to-terrorists platforms, a Democrat win will be seen by many in Israel as dealing a sever blow to the security of the Jewish state.

Like the article?
Help spread the word:
Jnewswire updates
Never miss another story
  • Inbox already too full?
    Subscribe to our
    RSS feed instead!