Hillary Clinton Wants U.S.-Israel Relationship Back On 'Constructive Footing' [View all]

Source: HuffPo

In a phone discussion with Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Clinton also reaffirmed her support for a two-state solution as a means of resolving the long-standing conflict in the Middle East.

“Secretary Clinton thinks we need to all work together to return the special U.S.-Israel relationship to constructive footing, to get back to basic shared concerns and interests, including a two-state solution pursued through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. We must ensure that Israel never becomes a partisan issue," read a statement posted by San Diego Jewish World on Sunday evening.

Tensions between the two nations escalated in the wake of U.S. negotiations with Iran over the future of its nuclear program, a course of action opposed by Netanyahu and congressional Republicans alike. Commenting on the Israeli election, which saw Netanyahu's Likud party retain control of the legislature, President Barack Obama expressed dismay with the prime minister's last-minute election rhetoric against Arab voters and his statement in opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state.


For Clinton, who is expected to declare her bid for president sometime next month, the matter is a delicate one. Division among American Jews over recent U.S.-Israel spats would complicate her outreach and efforts to unify supporters in the Democratic Party and beyond, which perhaps explains her wish that Israel ought to never become "a partisan issue."



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/29/hillary-clinton-israel-relationship_n_6965938.ht