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Obama has proven his commitment to Israel’s security
By Steven Grossman / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
What do Presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon Johnson and all but two American Presidents in the last 64 years have in common? None of them traveled to Israel in his first term, yet almost all were considered friends of the Jewish state.
With the exception of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, no U.S. President has made a stop in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem during his first four years in office — nor have their failures to visit been considered a sign of disloyalty or lack of support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Now, we hear from Gov. Mitt Romney and his supporters that President Obama is not sufficiently supportive of Israel. A big part of their proof? The fact that he hasn’t made the trek to Ben Gurion Airport since his days as a candidate in 2008.
I have been to Israel dozens of times and led many delegations of visiting political and civic leaders. I can tell you from experience that what counts isn’t whether someone goes to Israel, but the policies they espouse here at home. Obama’s tenure has been marked by a string of pro-Israel actions, accomplishments and stands.
The President’s record starts and ends with his clear and concrete steps to safeguard Israeli families. His administration has restored and increased Israel’s qualitative military edge. It has invested more in security aid to Israel than any other White House in history.
