On the recordDecember 2, 2013
You are exactly correct in how we move forward. Again, when you just put aspirational goals out there, you are going to get aspirational results sometimes, and that means nothing. And I think that is really where I see this agreement right now. But I want to take, again--I believe that not only do you have a ``what'' and the reasons, but there is also sort of the ``why'' factor. And I have talked about that a lot from both sides of the aisle. Many times, we might not talk about the ``why'' a lot. But I want to talk just for a moment about some of things that we are doing as well, about Israel and our relationship just from a ``why'' perspective, why this matters so much and the history that we have, for some who may be listening. The U.S. and Israeli relationship really goes back to after World War II, and it had become apparent to the international community that the Jews needed a homeland of their own. In 1948, President Harry Truman recognized the State of Israel. During the cold war, Israel was a key ally in stopping the spread of communism in the Arab world. The U.S. and Israel had a joint strategic interest in defeating aggressors in the Middle East seeking to influence their neighbors and disrupt the status quo, especially if they had Moscow's backing. President John F.…





