Steve Rothman: “America's number one ally in the Middle East, our strategic partner and our dear friend for 52 years, the State of…”

“America's number one ally in the Middle East, our strategic partner and our dear friend for 52 years, the State of Israel, is today fighting for its very life. Our friend, the State of Israel, who helped us in the Persian Gulf War against Saddam Hussein and in so many other crises in the region and on a day-to-day basis when, as our military is described, America's aircraft carrier in a sea of trouble, is fighting for its very life. We remember who fought against us in the Persian Gulf War. Chairman Arafat and the Palestinian Authority supported Saddam Hussein against America and its allies. Chairman Arafat rejected an offer for an independent state for the Palestinian people just a few months ago, an offer made by Prime Minister Barak of Israel. He did not like the terms. What did he do? He was supposed to, under the Oslo Accords, continue negotiating. Instead, he walked out, made no counteroffer, left the negotiating table. Days later, violence ensued and lots of innocent people have been killed. The Palestinian people deserve a leader who will negotiate peace without resorting to violence. Until they get such a leader, the people of the United States need to stand with their friend, the only democracy in the region, America's strategic partner; the only democracy in the region who was traditionally called Satan by the people of the region, along with America, as the Great Satan.”