threat to both america and israel and its quest to become a nuclear power continues. we look forward to continue to work closely with the administration and congress to ensure that iran never acquires the bond. [applause] we thank you, mr. vice president, for your commitment to direct negotiations between israel and the palestinians. that was clear when you took a stand against the palestinian statehood bid at the united nations. [applause] we remain hopeful that we can work together to forge a lasting negotiated peace resulting in a jewish state israel living side-by-side with a demilitarized palestinian state. [applause] but perhaps the most tangible evidence of your support has been through your commitment to foreign aid into israel missile defense programs. because of this administrations dedication to israel, more than $400 million has been invested in iron dome. [applause] your support, mr. vice president during operation killer of defense and commitment to these life-saving systems enables israel to defend itself while preventing a wider conflict. million of israelis a

regional and global powers all with their own agenda including israel what are tell of us goals in this conflict what are the risks of failure and will anarchy be the only winner in the syrian civil war. to cross talk the war in syria i'm joined by dan arbella in washington he is again scholar at the sob in center for middle east policy at the brookings institution and of former israeli diplomat also in washington we have now he is a political analyst and in london we cross to. he is the president of the arab lawyers association in the u.k. right gentlemen crossed cycles in effect it means you can jump in anytime you want daniel if i can go to you first in washington what is their sales agenda in this war right now because we hear maybe a buffer zone could be created into syria. is not intervening in the conflict taking place in syria but it's watching the situation unfolding very very closely israel has many concerns regarding what's happening in syria today first and foremost the chemical weapons. held by the assad regime and there's really concern that may fall into the wrong hands o

conference. ehud, i want to thank you for the years of service for israel's security. thank you, ehud and i want to recognize ambassadors oren and prosser, michael, and ron, thank you both for the terrific service you are doing for israel every day. [applause] and finally, i want to thank all of you who have come from far and wide to be here today to express your support for israel. as you know, i was hoping to speak to you in person, but unfortunately, i had to stay in israel to do something a lot more enjoyable, putting together a coalition government. what fun. if i could offer a free piece of advice, do not adopt israel's system of government. [laughter] you know, every system has its pluses and minuses, but believe me, it is a lot easier finding common ground between two parties than it is to find common ground among 10 parties. you think you have a difficulty working out your politics? believe me, his is harder, but despite the difficulties, i intend to form a strong and stable government in the days ahead and the first thing that my new government will have the privilege

regimes israel has never had problem with the regimes in any of the countries their problem is always with the people in the in that region that are more city toward the toward israel is so deep rooted that it doesn't matter what. and if you have a situation where there is no dictatorship like the one which exists at the moment then it's going to be free for all to vent their anger to take whatever measures that have and this is the point that israel is what it about certainly as far as been so far it's been very quiet they don't know how it's going to be when it's when the regime collapses and i think this is the point that they are about but at the same time they are. happy that the syrians are destroying themselves are committing suicide destroying that army and killing their people they hope that this will also end up by getting hizbullah and iran influence and i got that i want to go to those topics a little bit later now bill in washington you jump in what is it israel's objectives here let me first define the syrian conflict because without a proper definition of things would be con

in israel after meetings with prime minister benjamin netanyahu. and he reaffirmed his commitment to israel and discussed security concerns and the road to peace in the middle east. this is about an hour. >> well, it is a great honor to be with you here and i'm so grateful for the welcome that i've received from the people of israel. i bring with me the support of the american people and the friendship that binds us together. you know, over the last few days i've reaffirmed the bonds between our countries with prime minister netanyahu and perez. i've born witness to the ancient history of the jewish people at the shrine of the book i've seen your future in your scientists and entrepreneurs. this is a nation of museums and patents, timeless holy sites, ground-breaking innovation. only in israel could you see the dead sea scrols and the place where the technology on board the mars rover originated t the same time. but what i most look forward to is the ability to speak directly to you, the israeli people, especially so many young people who are here today. to talk about the history tha

visit the state of israel the first time during his time in office the so-called peace process we're told is not on the agenda so the real purpose of the visit around syria with what i call the great in the arab muslim world what does obama hope to achieve beyond paying his respects. to cross a bomb has upcoming visit to israel i'm joined by norman finkelstein a new york political analyst and an author and in amman we have. co-editor of john the gentleman you can jump in anytime you want you know crosstalk rules maureen if i can go to you first i mean why is obama going to the middle east now what does he want to achieve. it doesn't appear that he's trying to achieve anything people who know us foreign policy much better than i have suggested that the purpose of the visit is simply to visit and to check that box and to be able to demonstrate that he's been to israel and to get out of the way at the beginning of his term and it doesn't and it certainly has as you yourself mentioned the so-called peace process is not on the agenda he's not bringing any new initiative with him i presume

an idiot apac did not take a position on this why are you blaming israel the jewish lobby for the republicans hard line partisanship big time fail i don't know if you're aware but there are many other groups other than a pac that constitute the jewish lobby emergency committee for israel is the one that funded the attack ads against a goal see for yourself. president obama says all options are on the table for presenting your iraq equal service military action is not why he should be responsible watch the funders of that smear campaign the political action committee and thus a lobby effort and sorry but why would there be a groundbreaking filibuster of a candidate if it had nothing to do with said lobbying effort and point out the obvious backed up facts by analysis is bigoted and it's official you my friend are the worst kind of idiot. when response of the many assassin drones segments said the segment about the drone seemed a little over the top but like you want to be rather scared sorry rather than informed you're right i don't ever want to come across as a fear monger you kno

that's what i think about when israel's faced with these challenges. that sense of an israel that is surrounded by many in this region who still reject it and many in fact world who refuse to accept it. that's why the security of the jewish people in israel is so important. it cannot be taken for granted. but make no mistake. those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting israel's right to exist, they might as well reject the earth beneath them or the sky above because israel's not going anywhere. [ applause ] and today i want to tell you, particularly the young people, so that there's no mistake here, so long as there is a united states of america -- [ speaking foreign language ] you are not alone. the question is, what kind of future israel will look forward to? israel is not going anywhere, but especially for the young people in this audience, the question is, what does its future hold? and that brings me to the subject of peace. i know israel has taken risks for peace. brave leaders reached treaties with two of your neighbors. you made credible proposals to the palestinians at ann

and to be able to demonstrate that he's been to israel and to get it out of the way at the beginning of his term and it doesn't and it certainly has as you yourself mentioned the so-called peace process is not on the agenda he's not bringing any new initiative with him i presume there'll be lots of talk about about syria and iran but i think that from washington's perspective the fact that there may not yet be an israeli government so or that it will have just recently been formed and there won't be that room to have any serious discussions about israeli palestinian relations is probably a positive thing from washington's perspective norman is a kind of farcical to go to israel not talk about the so-called peace process i mean it's farce. i'm not sure of i would call the farce there's actually no reason why president obama would want to talk about the so-called peace process the main purpose of the peace process is to serve as a distraction while israel gets on with the serious work and that sing about ten percent of the west bank where right now israel and the united states don't ne

caw] tonight, president obama says aloha to israel. and my guest james franco is the star of the new movie "oz, the great and powerful." i'll nail him, and his little dog, too. [laughter] queen elizabeth has been released from the hospital for what they say is a stomach bug. either that, or there's another royal baby on the way! this is "the colbert report." [cheers and applause] ["the colbert report" theme music playing] [cheers and applause] right here. right there. good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the report. thank you for joining us. [cheers and applause] [crowd chanting, "stephen!"] [cheers and applause] thank you so much. thank you so. ladies and gentlemen, we've got to get to the news. [cheers and applause] nation, if you haven't heard-- i know my studio audience hasn't because we keep them in a hyperbaric chamber before the show-- there are two huge, breaking stories tonight. first hugo chavez venezuelan strongman and friend of the show is dead. repeat. hugo chavez is dead. [audience reacts] >> stephen: i know. obviously this leaves a huge hole in south american

after arriving in israel earlier today. listen to this. >> good to get away from congress, the president is overheard saying. a cnn exclusive. jake tapper sat down with the house speaker john boehner and specifically asked the speaker about what the president was overheard saying. >> president obama arrived in israel today, he had some interesting comments for prime minister netanyahu on the tarmac. he said it is good to get away from congress. netanyahu laughed and said, believe me, i know. any reaction? >> so much for the charm offensive. >> but does a comment like that have any impact, you think? >> no, not really. president is meeting with the president of israel, he's got his legislative issues, the president has got his. comes with the territory. >> comes with the territory. >> i would rather be heckled than ignored or as i like to say, you only tease the ones you love. >> takes the full interview with the speaker, coming up for our north american viewers with "the lead" at 4:00 p.m. eastern. a lot of us remember some of the tense moments during the first four years, espe

is full of turmoil and changing underneath your feet. so that's what i think about when israel's faced with these challenges. that sense of an israel that is surrounded by many in this region who still reject it and many in the world who refuse to accept it. that's why the security of the jewish people in israel is so important. it cannot be taken for granted. but make no mistake. those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting israel's right to exist, they might as well reject the earth beneath them or the sky above, because israel is not going anywhere. and today i want to tell you, particularly the young people, so that there's no mistake here, so long as there is a united states of america, you are not alone. the question is, what kind of future israel will look forward to. israel's not going anywhere, but especially for the young people in this audience, the question is, what does its future hold? and that brings me to the subject of peace. i know israel has taken risks for peace. brave leaders reached treaties with two of your neighbors. you made credible proposals to the pal

- proliferation operations on behalf of israel, the first of which was as a young pilot in 1981. he was a pilot into being is ready operation. please help me welcome general amos yadlin. [applause] >> and a distinguished member of the u.s. armed services committee who played a key role in helping to combat anti-israel said the man at the united nations in a number of roles through the senate. please help me welcome kirsten gillibrand. >> senator mccain, i want to start with you. iran is on everybody's mind. what can the united states do working together to deal with iran and prevent iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities? >> thank you and thank you all for the warm welcome. what a great honor it is to be with general yadlin. we once through the same type of airplane. the difference is he used to shoot people down and i got shot down. i have watched a number of senators come to the united states senate. this senator from new york has done a magnificent job in the sense of the state of israel and the defense of freedom. . we recently had an encounter with the president of egypt i

restate america's of unwavering commitment to israel's security and to speak directly to the people of israel and to your neighbors. i want to begin right now by answering a question that is sometimes asked about our relationship. why? united states to stand so strongly and firmly with the state of israel? the answer is simple -- we stand together because we share a common story. patriots determined to be a free people in our land. pioneers to forge a nation -- who forged a nation and heroes who sacrificed. and immigrants from every corner of the world who renew constantly our diverse society. we stand together because we are democracies. for as noisy and messy as we may be, we know as democracy is the greatest form of government ever devised by man. we stand together because it makes us more prosperous. our trade and investment create jobs for both of our peoples. our partnerships in science and medicine and health bring us closer to new cures, harness new energy and have helped transform us in the high-tech homes of our global economy. we stand together because we share a commitment

trip to israel, a conferring with the former u.s. ambassador to that country martin indyk. the stakes are high. the question on the table can the president restart the middle east peace effort that eludes the region. conversation with martin indyk coming up right now. >> there's a saying that dr. king had, he said it's always the right time to do the right thing. i try to live my life every day by doing the right thing. we know that we're only halfway to completely eliminate hunger and we have a lot of work to do. wal-mart committed $2 billion to fighting hunger in the u.s. as we work together, we can stamp hunger out. >> and my contribution to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: when president obama touches down in israel on wednesday, he'll bring with him a full agenda. first, there is the expectation that meaningful peace talks between the israelis and palestinians can be restarted. with the new secretary of state john kerry along on this trip, some in the administration hope a new spirit of collaboration can be established. there's also a new coalition govern

. >> vice president joe biden spoke to attendees at the annual u.s. israel policy conference. he reaffirmed the u.s. commitment to israel. his remarks, head of president obama's first visit to israel. this is 40 minutes. i am a zionist. these are the words of a man who began his pro israel journey in 1973. over the next four decades, joe biden treat turn to jerusalem dozens of times. he has called every prime minister a friend. four years ago, month after you were sworn into office, we welcome you to the aipac conference. it is fitting that we have the honor of welcoming you again. [applause] the past four years have seen tremendous -- tremendous change in the total east. likes to president obama and you, we know that we have an administration committed to the security of israel. iran's never have nuclear capability. [applause] the world community rallied around the united states. we have implemented sanctions that have left the iranian regime more isolated than ever. the islamic republic remains the greatest security threat to both america and israel. and its quest to become a nuclear powe

obama's visit to israel a new threat from iran. >> iran's supreme leader today vowed to destroy tel aviv if iran is attacked by israel. and made those comments in an address marking the iranian new year. >> and he said the basis of hostility with iran is the u.s. government. we'll have the latest on president obama's trip to the region live from jerusalem. >>> the united nations is going to launch an investigation into whether chemical weapons were indeed used in syria. both the syrian regime and the opposition asked the u.n. to look into the claim. >> the demand came after both sides accused each other of firing chemical weapons on tuesday. opposition groups insist rebels don't have access to such material. >> and u.s. officials saying they welcome the move. >>> first up, north korea's new and threatening message. pyongyang warning today it has the capability to strike u.s. bases in guam and japan. >> matthew chance joining us now from seoul, south korea. matthew, is this north korea's typical bluster or something more ominous here? >> it's really difficult to say, fredricka, becau

that's what i think about when israel faces these challenges. that sense of an israel that is surrounded by many in this region who still reject it, and many in the world who refuse to accept it. that's why the security of the jewish people in israel is so important, it cannot be taken for granted. make no mistake, those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting israel's right to exist, they might as well reject the earth beneath them or the sky above because israel is not going anywhere. [cheers and applause] >> and today i want to tell you, particularly the young people, so that there is no mistake here, so long as there is a united states of america -- [speaking foreign language] >> you are not alone. [cheers and applause] >> the question is what kind of future israel will look forward to. israel is not going anywhere, but especially for the young people in this audience the question is, what does its future hold? and that brings me to the subject of peace. [applause] >> i know israel has taken risks for peace. brave leaders reached treaties with two of your neighbors. you ma

to the israeli people. in a major speech he delivered about the importance of israel and the importance of peace with the palestinians. the audience of students helped him deal with a heckler. >> oh no. >> this is part of the live lyre debate we talked about. this is good. >> i have to say we arranged for that, because it made me feel at home. >> you know i -- i wouldn't feel comfortable if i didn't have at least one heckler. >> the president used the forum to deliver another stern warning to the assad regime in syria next door. >> we will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons against the syrian people or the transfer of those weapons to terrorists. the world is watching, we will hold you accountable. >> and he was cheered for his commitment on iran. >> america will do what we must to prevent a nuclear-armed iran. >> earlier in the west bank, president obama met with the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas. only hours after a stark reminder of the region's dangers as militants in gaza fired several rockets into southern israel. in ramallah today, the president also revers

israel i'm joined by norman finkelstein a new york political analyst and an author and in amman we have rabbani he is coeditor of. gentlemen you can jump in anytime you want you know crosstalk rules maureen if i can go to you first i mean why is obama going to the middle east now what does he want to achieve it doesn't appear that he's trying to achieve anything people who know us foreign policy much better than i have suggested that the purpose of the visit is simply to visit and to check that box and to be able to demonstrate that he's been to israel and to get out of the way at the beginning of this term and it doesn't certainly as as you yourself mentioned the so-called peace process is not on the agenda he's not bringing any new initiative with him i presume there will be lots of talk about about syria and iran but i think that from washington's perspective the fact that there may not yet be an israeli government so or that it will have just recently been formed and there won't be that room to have any serious discussions about israeli palestinian relations is probably a positive t

disappointed by his show of unwavering allegiance to israel and lack of pressure over the issue of settlements at a meeting with the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas obama was more strained on the problem than before saying that freezing certain instruction should not be a precondition for peace talks however insisted the expansion was illegal must be stopped immediately artie's middle east correspondent paula slayer was at one of the protests and has more what else was fuming about how the. people here have been chanting is a bomb that you're not black they've also been chanting that the occupation is like a snake and america is being head of the snake they're also saying that this is a nation that cannot be defeated not been talking to several people and what they've been telling me is that first and foremost through this visit a bomb has made it quite clear that america's support is for israel they complain that he's been talking to these radios hearing the israelis point of view and then ultimately putting forward the israeli position when it comes to peace negotiations with th

peace deal, but the difficulty of the mission was underscored by a rocket attack in southern israel by palestinian militants in gaza. >> thursday afternoon, he received a standing ovation from the israeli audience after proclaiming his support for an independent palestinian state alongside a jewish won. >> obama also made it clear that u.s. support for israel is not unconditional, saying to settlements are preventing peace. we have more from jerusalem. >> the main auditorium in jerusalem was packed. hundreds of israelis came to hear the u.s. president speak. obama step to the key message of his visit. >> i believe that peace is the only path to true security. the only way for israel to enter and thrive as a jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable palestine. that is true. >> the address to university students came after obama returned from the west bank where he met with the palestinian president. both leaders criticized israeli settlement building. abbas condemned the construction as illegal. obama also spoke to the ongoing threats to isra

house at this point says it cannot con official those claims. this trip to israel is the first for the president. this is a four-day middle east trip. he was greeted by netanyahu and israeli president perez. before leaving the a airport, president obama was shown the israeli air force system which the u.s. helped pay for. he met with president perez and took part in a ceremonial tree planting. >> there is a common vision uniting us. to confirm dangers. to bring closure as soon as possible. >> i reaffirm president perez, as i will throughout my visit, that in this work, the state of israel will have no greater friend than the united states. right now as president meets with prime minister netanyahu, major issues, like syria, iran's nuclear program, stalled peace talks. ish a us taking center stage and joining me live now from jerusalem, host of "andrea mitchell reports," andrea mitchell. also my friend and colleague, martin fletcher. along with "newsweek" daily beast editor, elizabeth roug. when the news conference starts, well take it live. this trip, andrea, a postally a symbolic one

obama's visit to israel iran's supreme leader makes a chilling new threat. and did the u.s. secret service accidently fire a shotgun near iran's president when he was in new york? and why did iran keep it quiet all these years? i'm wolf blitzer. you're in the situation room. >>> let's begin with the breaking news. the stakes couldn't be higher. president obama has warned use of chemical weapons by syria would be a game changer, his words. the u.s. has been investigating words of chemical attacks. now the first assessment shows that chemical weapons were apparently not used. let's go straight to our pentagon correspondent barbara starr. what's the latest? what are you learning? >> reporter: wolf, i've been talking to officials all day and they tell me the initial preliminary intelligence assessment is this. chemical weapons were not used. a chemical substance may well have been. when you look at that video emerging from syrian hospitals they say it does not appear that the symptoms or the treatment match the use of chemical weapons such as outlawed nerve or blister agents. they thin

that they need to improve their relationship with israel the turkish prime minister recently made the comment that zionism was a crime against humanity and response to those kerry said that the comments were objects in a bowl those comments could indeed frustrate kerry's attempts to try and create an improvement in a strange israeli turkish relations that have hit an all time low what we essentially see through kerry's visit is an attempt by the united states to try and appease countries in the region israel to essentially insure television security but the problem really is that the positions of both israel and the united states in this region are at an all time low they are under threat and in most small part due to the actions of washington and tel aviv themselves the situation in syria has only made things worse you have the rise of islamic extremism across the region following the arab spring and this is something that the united states directly supported at the same time what we're really seeing is and washington is having to deal with problems that it created and this is essent

just wrapped up his first presidential trip to israel and palestine during his three day visit he spent ninety nine percent of his time in israel meeting with officials making symbolic gestures and touring the country and yet in palestine he spent nearly hours briefly meeting with the palestinian authority and visiting a church what he felt to see in the short time he was there was hundreds of palestinians protesting his visit and then signs of messages like this one obama stop supporting israeli war crimes or secure the release of forty eight hundred palestinian prisoners or america as the head of terrorism one protest many were don and martin luther king masks in an attempt to invoke the spirit of the civil rights movement in south african apartheid was a far cry from the imagery of obama in israel you know warded the medal of distinction by the israeli government a first of its kind for any american president so here to talk about the significance of this trip and the prospects for peace between the two countries i'm joined now by phyllis bennis director of the new internationa

entire region. to israel's west, questions about the muslim brotherhood and political stability in egypt. and to the east, syria, in the grips of an allout civil war and just 24 hours ago we received reports that chemical weapons may have been used against one side or the other. and of course, there is the constant threat from iran which president obama himself warned could be less than a f having a nuclear weapon. so as we await this historical-making news conference we want to check in with our own leland vittert live with the headlines from israel and syria. >> reporter: megyn, the israelis think may have been used in syria yesterday. but understand that here chemical weapons have a different meaning than the united states. in u.s. you're talking vx gas, sarin gas. and weapons of mass destruction. and the proof of some type of chemical attacks by the rebels, seem to show if anything a chlorine gas attack or some type of missile or weapon ended up in a chlorine tank and spread the noxious gas. we're not seeing the kind of effects of a mass destruction chemical weapon that would h