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This weekend Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington, D.C., during which he will visit with George Mitchell, Special Envoy to the Middle East, as well as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.  The trip comes after Vice President Joe Biden publicly condemned Israel for its announcement of housing construction in East Jerusalem while Biden was visiting our Middle East ally, and a 45-minute phone call in which Clinton berated Netanyahu and issued demands that Israel make specific commitments to the peace process with Palestinians.  

The recent tone of this Administration towards Israel, one of America’s staunchest allies and defender of democracy in the Middle East is very troubling.  Since 1947, Israel has been committed to permanent peace with its neighbors, making Clinton’s demands insulting.  The harsh disapproval of Israel by the administration is damaging to our relationship, and counter-productive to the steps Israel has taken towards peace.  At a time when the Iranian regime continues to pursue its nuclear program, such a rift with America’s staunch, and long-standing ally is dangerous.  This administration cannot further isolate Israel but rather the U.S. should reaffirm America’s unequivocal commitment to one of our closest allies.