[State Department ] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference on Tuesday: "Because of citizens of conscience like all of you, our alliance with Israel will forever be rooted in a fellowship of families, of friends, and of faith - deepened by a shared culture of tolerance and a pioneer spirit - and elevated by interests reinforced by common ideals. This is the true foundation of the U.S.-Israel alliance. It is enduring. And we reject any attempt to reduce it to crude conspiracy theories." "Our kinship with Israel gives us Americans a visceral understanding and sympathy for how Israel's confidence is tested when it comes to security. I remember all-too-well the awful days of 2001 and 2002, when Israelis feared that every bus ride, every night out, was another Passover massacre waiting to happen. And I know the anguish and anger that all Israelis feel, and that we Americans feel, as the terror of random rockets still rains down on innocent people in towns like Sderot and Ashkelon. The thought that our Israeli allies might live in fear and insecurity is simply unacceptable to our nation." "When people used to say...'One person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter,' it was the United States that said: No. The intentional murder of innocent people is wrong everywhere at all times."
2008-06-04 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive