all of israel supported by the americans is the one which is creating this trouble for israel as well as obviously the people in the region this is this is not going to change with changing whether you have a regime of assad or islamist or whatever other terminology is used the idea that somehow israel is actually concerned about having a democratic stable regime of course this is a term used for having a government that is going to be the same as the us government when it comes to the israeli situation do nothing about the israeli situation stop the people from fighting them and this is this is not going to change i think this is going to change whereby whatever happens the regime that is going to come is going to make israeli life more difficult and israel is going to have to take how sharon measures syria and the neighborhood indeed in lebanon they're going to let out of the idea of no bill do you want to jump in there react to what we just heard thank you let me again focus on the regional perspective because this is not just one nation state at trying to articulate. a thought you

-israel alliance. [applause] and please thank him for going to israel in a few weeks. [applause] this trip sends an important message to the people of israel and the world about america's commitment to the jewish state. ladies and gentlemen, i am honored to introduce and welcome a friend who stands with us now and had stood with us always, a steadfast supporter of the u.s.-israel relationship, the vice president of the united states, joe biden. [applause] >> that was really nice. thank you, mr. president. it's great to be here. it's great to be here. ladies and gentlemen, oh, what a difference four years make. i look out there and see an old friend, annette lantos. annette, how are you? her husband tom lantos, a survivor, was my assistant, was my foreign policy adviser for years, and tom used to say all the time, joe -- he talked that hungarian accent -- joe, we must do another fundraiser for aipac. [laughter] i did more fundraisers for aipac in the 1970s and early 1980s than -- just about as many as anybody. thank god you were not putting on shows like this. we would

a priority america's commitment and my commitment to israel and israel's security is unshakeable. it isn't chicle. but his pronounced allegiance to israel is not just a commitment of the past the commitment to the future as well take a look at vice president biden had to say at the conference just this morning. let's learn from the moment the president took office he has acted swiftly and decisively to make clear to the whole world and to our israel that even if circumstances have changed one thing has not our deep commitment to the security of the state of it is. that has. that changed as long as the our president and vice has. exceeded our. self-interest. found. however despite the administration's open display of affection and outright promise to stand by the country through thick and thin a shocking new poll reveals that voters think obama isn't doing enough yes thirty nine percent of voters that obama is not supporting israel enough only thirteen percent face policies quote to support it so what to talk about this unwavering bonamy influence that really has over politics and

the west bank and gaza from israeli control of israel's rule is. israel is resisting tooth and nail withdrawing from approximately twenty two percent of historic palestine what's the basis for the assumption that israel will relinquish relinquish complete control over the eighty percent of palestine it's had sovereigns sovereign sovereign control over since one thousand nine hundred forty nine that's just sheer silliness the only reason these. speculations now rise of one state it's because nothing is happening if nothing is happening on the ground and of course people will speculate about all sorts of things that are totally disk . inducted from politics if you take for example the first intifada the first intifada that was significant. number one it was a mess all right. we don't have enough time we have no norman my friend we have run out of time many thanks to my guests today in new york and in amman and thanks to our viewers for watching us here at r.t. see you next time and remember cross talk rules. only will. the worst. white house of the d

by visiting israel. [laughter] it's a chonda! don't fall for it, my chosen brethren, my he-bros. [laughter] he doesn't get you. [cheers and applause] this man doesn't get it. israel is a divided country that feels beseiged by terrorists, and whose politics are increasingly dictated by a small, hard-right minority. obama can't relate to that! [laughter] and if you need more proof that the president is no friend of israel, just do the math: back in 2007, president bush supported israel with $2.3 billion in foreign military aid. this year, president obama wants to bring that down to just $3.1 billion. [laughter] i know, it looks like it's going up, but remember, in hebrew you read charts from right to left. [cheers and applause] all right? [cheers and applause] and our worst fears about obama were confirmed when he appointed as secretary of defense former senator and man who just learned his dog died-- chuck hagel. [laughter] hagel has a history of troubling statements. he once said the jewy lobby intimidat

israel's not going anywhere. israel has the wisdom to see the world as it is, but this is in your nature. israel also has the courage to see the world as it should be. you know, it was once said, in israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles. sometimes the greatest miracle is recognizing that the world can change. that's a lesson that the world has learned from the jewish people. and that brings me to the final area that i'll focus on. prosperity and israel's broader role in the world. i know that all the talk about security and peace can sometimes seem to dominate the headlines, but that's not where people live. and every day, even amidst the threats that you face, israelis are defining themselves by the opportunities that you're creating. through talent and hard work. israelis have put this small country at the forefront of the global economy. israelis understand the value of education and have produced ten nobel laureates. israeli's understand the power of invention and your universities ed

come to israel, see what israel is all about. you need to the young generation. this is an amazing generation. i used to tell them i have a problem. i do not know what to do about it. do you have an idea. these people, 25, 26 years old, they came back with the most innovative idea. come and see them. they love you, love them. together, we can do it. >> lastly, the final word goes to senator john mccain. >> i have to tell my baptist friends that it is hard to do the lord's work in the city of satan. it gets harder every single day. your ambassador does the same every single day. he became a socialist in the ivy league. the only way to destroy the iranians is for them to leave the united states and israel will act together. egypt is the heart and soul of the arab world. we must pay careful attention. we must gauge our aid to egypt to their progress. we cannot just give them a blank check. we do not want to break the camp david accord either. that is a serious issue. everybody in this room has something to do besides be here this morning and this evening. i want to

israel really is an skoesten shl issue. that is a question in israel's mind. whether the united states will change its policies at the moment, of course, that will depend on progress in iran. and there is real progress. the question is in iran, how close are they actually to in terms of enriching uranium to that 20% level. how much of it and how soon will they reach the 93% level which means they can make a bomb very quickly. and american intelligence, pretty -- they are pretty close to agreeing on what is happening in iran. what they don't necessarily agree on is what to do about it. >> we should note here for viewers at home, that the joint news conference that was supposed to have started at 2:00 or 2:05, we just received word that it will start at 2:25 instead. the joint news conference between netanyahu and president obama. when it happens, we will bring it to you live as well. louise, let me bring you in here to the conversation. what can we expect the president to say about the expansion of settlements, on palestinian land, another major issue on the ag

tonight on the eve of president obama's 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

israel and in the u.s. over iran he runs a role in this syrian uprising is really negligible because at the present moment there is the western powers of the us france britain. and at the same kind of. over fifty percent of the day. and then everybody you know who's israel and in the usa cannot think of anything other than through the prism of iran iran has nothing to do with the. syria point. rubbish which is the media being peddling it because if you if you attempt to put anything toward iran everybody in the west begins to feel threatened this is just like the use of and then you can accuse anybody of anything ok at the end of the day i think certainly the effect of the syrian revolution will be to weaken hezbollah because at the present moment the contact between iran and hezbollah is through syria and that's the point that is going to be weakened however i think israel knows hezbollah can do and israel cannot afford to lose civilians and civilians will be lost if there is an intervention with there is

but today israel is at a crossroads. it can be tempting to put aside the frustrations and sacrifices that come with the pursuit of peace, particularly when iron dome repels rockets, barriers keep out suicide bombers, there are so many other pressing issues that demand your attention, and i know that only israelis can make the fundamental decisions about your country's future. [applause] >> i recognize that. i also know by the way that not everyone in this hall will agree with what i have to say about peace. i recognize that there are those who are not simply skeptical about peace but question its underlying premise. have a different vision for israel's future, and that is part of a democracy, that is part of the discourse between our two countries, i recognize that. but i also believe it's important to be open and honest especially with your friends. i also believe that. [applause] >> you know politically given the strong bipartisan support for israel in america, the easiest thing for me to do would be to push this issue

to make a visit to israel. the israelis felt kind of sidelined by the cairo speech which he opened his first term with, and they did not necessarily like the tone of that speech. they were waiting for some sign that he also had a concern with the israeli public. he resisted his entire first term and decided to make this his first trip of his second term, as a way, maybe, of making up for not going in his first four years. >> let me ask you -- will this visit helped to start to restart or bring about a revival of the peace process? >> well, i think the chances seem unlikely at this moment, that we will see any major breakthrough in the coming weeks or months, but you never know. it is possible. i do not think that is the primary goal of his mission, but i think the fact that his new secretary of state, john kerry, is very interested in doing exactly that at least leave that possibility open, and i think what will be much more interesting is not what happens while he is there on the ground but what happens after

of course the president was in israel to show that he was a friend to israel. checking out the dead sea scrolls and navigating the avant-garde red carpets of the west bank but of course danger lurked everywhere. oh, my god, mr. president! the robots. oh, my god! oh, they're jewish robots. they're bringing him some food. i'm going to stop you right there, mr. president. good matza? that's what's known in the business as a goy tell because unless it was slathered in fluffer nutter or jammed inside a chip-wich, it tastes like the box it came in. matza sucks so bad they had to have a robot bring it to him. i understand you're a guest in israel, you want to be polite but you're allowed to say matza sucks, trust me. that's what netanyahu was thinking. you give matza to a jew, here's what they think. how many nights do we have to eat this [bleep]? anyway, got to take more than just pretending to like matza to win over this skeptical crowd >> so long as there is a united states of america (speaking hebrew), you are not alone. sniem is that what that means? touche or as

this is the story of israel. this is the work that has brought the dreams of so many generations to life, and every step of the way israel has built unbreakable bonds of friendship with my country, the united states of america. [ applause ] those ties began only 11 minutes after israeli independence when the united states was the first nation to recognize the state of israel. as president truman said in explaining his decision to recognize israel, he said, i believe it has a glorious future before it, not just as another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization. and since then we've built a friendship that advances our shared interests. together we share a commitment to security for our citizens and the stability of the middle east and north africa. together we share a focus on advancing economic growth around the globe and strengthening the middle class within our own countries. together we share a stake in the success of democracy. but the source of our friendship extends b

has done for israel. the president and i agreed to focus our discussion on three main issues -- first, iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, second, the deteriorating situation in syria, and third, the need to find a responsible way to advance peace with the palestinians. on the first point, iran has made it clear that it will continue to defy the will of the international community. time after time, the world's leading powers have tabled proposals to resolve the iranian nuclear issue peacefully, but i have to tell you the truth. diplomacy has not worked. iran ignores all these offers. it is running out the clock. it has used negotiations, including the most recent ones, to buy time to press ahead with its nuclear program, so thus far, the sanctions have not stopped the nuclear program either. sanctions have hit the iranian economy hard. that is true but iran's leaders grit their teeth and they move forward. iran enriches more and more uranium. it installs faster and faster centrifuges. it still has not cros

some of the young people that he was addressing inside israel were in fact palestinian citizens of israel he made no acknowledgement of that but of course this was not symbolism aimed at the palestinians he did make in his speech some very important remarks about justice his speech was quite powerful in terms of the rights of palestinians to justice the problem was his actions his actions were very clear we're going to continue doing what we're doing we're not going to hold israel accountable we're not going to condition our aid etc so even at the level of symbolism if he had gone to the grave of yasser arafat for instance and said whatever i may think of some of the things arafat has done he was seen as the father of modern palestinian nationalism and in that way i recognize his his importance to his people. that's all he would have had to say he chose not to do that the real factor here was far more about iran where there was a great deal of pressure being put on the israeli government by the us to say stop pushing us towards war and in fact that's the one thing that benjamin netanyahu

mentioning but still israel has peace with egypt as well as peace with jordan israel on the verge of reestablishing negotiations with the palestinians of course of the syrian responsible regime comes into power i'm sure that israel will be. interested in in gauging in a dialogue to see if the pieces is it is possible i do is really. to deal with your focus on circulation talking about bills comments regarding. the bill or about the u.s. role in this i think it's absolutely critical in essential that u.s. steps up its efforts aiding the opposition. supplying the opposition with even greater supply and funding the already been giving coordinating activity before we go to the break or you go to the break you can twenty seconds before we go to the break. the usa once said design out of many a position they want a particular opposition that is going to be that opposition that cannot be for instance from i'm not so that they cannot be from al qaida they cannot be islamist they cannot be shiite they cannot be with hezbollah they cannot be with iran so if they want to change the regime but t

do visit israel. barack obama actually first went to israel in 2006 when he was still an illinois senator. he went again in 2008 when he was running for president. you'll know chris christie is serious about running for president when he schedules a trip to israel. mitt romney went to israel last year in a desperate attempt to exploit a republican lie, that there was some kind of difference between president obama and it's really prime minister benjamin netanyahu about what the borders of israel should be. romney was aided and abetted in that lie by netanyahu, who is an old friend of romney's. they worked together 30 years ago at a boston consulting firm. as we reviewed last night, netanyahu left no room for doubt, he wanted mitt romney to be the next president of the united states. and romney delivered a speech in israel that echoed netanyahu's talking points at that time on iran. >> we should employ any and all measures to dissuade the iranian regime from its nuclear course, and it is our fervent ho

obama 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 internati

kind of ion is, what 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 ubject of peace. i know israel has taken risks for peace. reat leaders men ack ham rabreen.ts ack made credible proposals to the palestinians at annapolis. you withdrew from gaza and lebanon and then faced terror and rockets. across the region, you've extended a hand of friendship and all too often you've been confronted with rejection and in some cases the ugly reality of anti-semityism. so i believe that the israeli people do want peace. too also understand why many israelis, maybe an increasing number, maybe a lot of young people here today, are skeptical that it be achieved. but today israel is at a across roads. it can be tempting to put aside the frustrations and sacrifices that come with the pursuit of peace. particularly when iron dome rep else rockets, barriers keep out suicide bombers. there's so many other pressing issues that demand your attention. and

israel. police are saying hamas militants in gaza fired two rockets into that country slamming a border town. as president obama meets with palestinian leaders today in the west bank. conor powell is live in the town of sirot, israel, southern part of the country where police say one of those rockets landed. conor. hello. >> reporter: well, bill, israeli officials actually upped the number to four rockets that have been fired from gaza into southern israel earlier today. while much of the physical damage is fairly minor, bill, it was damage to a patio. there is the emotional damage. this is the second time this house here in sderot has been damaged in the last four or five months. there is the symbolic damage. fragile ceasefire agreed to in thanksgiving has been broken. no doubt this volley of rockets that came from gaza was tied to president obama's trip to israel and the west bank earlier today. bill: you wonder what has been said even out of gaza or hamas. what are they trying it say to th

and go to israel. what is that all about? i don't get it? >> one last look at it. >> hal: yeah right. wow. i think it's something colloquial and tribal about it. if i go to washington, d.c. or boston, or philadelphia where a lot of the initial documents were written and you walk around those areas there is something good about that history. it's something -- like that was just 200 years ago but it was the birth of our nation and the root of our idea -- >> it's a place that should be here hundreds thousands of years from now -- >> hal: yes. >> caller: but they go -- [overlapping speakers] >> so their jesus guy comes back. >> hal: exactly. so israel has two points of interest. obviously jews for the temple on the mount and the whaling wall and sites like that that are steeped with history. there was no religious base -- that was a governmental base, and unfortunately governments fall, and religions tend to power through, because government have to live up to a standard, and religions just scare you in to

president obama reaffirms washington's unbreakable bond with israel despite differences around nuclear problem while the west bank prepares to greet the u.s. leader with raging protests. a bull in a china shop russia's prime minister slams the e.u. over its handling of cyprus is economic turmoil in a cool welcome for the brussels officials who arrive in moscow attempting to calm the financial storm. and syria's government and opposition rebels both demand an international internet alleged deadly chemical attack that both sides are blaming on each other. and i welcome you watching our take with me andrey farm. now a big talks over a tiny country moscow has become the focal point in efforts to overcome cypresses economic crisis e.u. officials arrive in the russian capital on thursday joining the separate finance minister who is already in town the ailing euro zone state is running out of time to avoid bankruptcy but pressure increasing from brussels after cyprus rejected preconditions for an loaned me moderate frosty welcome may be ahead for the delegation this article piece going off re

he must be powerful in israel. he must be popular in israel. barack obama, to be candid, has not been popular in israel as compared to bill clinton and george bush. what this speech was about was trying to do in one hour what those politicians had done through engagement week after week, was to show the israelis that he understands intellectually, politically, he understands why they feel special about their country. to bring all that together, and as andrea said, this speech was designed to do all that. barack obama has shown in his career that these big set-piece speeches are his probably best tool as a president and as a political leader. if he can launch it, this will be the way to launch it. >> what is interesting, also, another aspect he brought was really an emotional connection. i was here with you. he's talking as a parent and reached out to israeli parents and said, were you to speak to some of these young palestinians i spoke with this morning, you would wish them well, you would wish them prosperity and peace. how much, jamie, do yo

and israel as well. this will undoubtedly come up in the president should be prepared to talk about it there. >> yes? >> my question is addressed to marco. we need to prevent iran from getting [inaudible] benjamin netanyahu talked about this. [inaudible question] >> well, you know, i think this could be a better question for dennis. our message has been missed on this front. i agree with you that the president has, for example, he had weapons capabilities. where is that has been the focus in the past. i think the terminology the u.s. uses has varied greatly. it sends a mixed message. the point i think is that there is an underlying part of evidence. both of the u.s. and israel are focused on the same thing, which is preventing an undetectable breakout. that is sincerely michael. you look at the question of how quickly could iran develop the weapons grade uranium for a single unintentional nuclear weapon. how can we be sure that we can prevent them from getting to that point. i would argue that the weapon

right of existence of the state of israel there was there was a lot of recognition i am recognizing israel as a state i am a member of its parliament. and i cannot. accept a different issue. putting me in an inferior status both legally and biblically. to the jewish majority at any case but in the past you have said that you believe in a nation's right to self to finish and so are you not contradicting yourself here no i recognize the filth the finish and the jewels in israel. but in israel there are all saw and mainly indigenous people who were here and did not come for writers or buy a plane or buy a ship i cannot. live. peacefully with the idea that is that even if this did the jewish people every dream in every world every place in the world cannot drive you and be immediately citizen when my uncle and my son died in full color or in jordan after being expelled in one thousand nine hundred eighty eight without even having is that right to be buried entirely in my town or in jaffa from where there were respect it is in justice pure and justice you are a member of the parliament since on

it is two trips in one to israel. the public part, you'd be hard- pressed to find a ford minivan'' worth of israelis that are anti- american. they want to like an american president. whatever their differences, for the most part, every stop along the visit is designed, choreographed to touch deeper chords in israeli society, whether it is the shrine of the books, or the stop at hertzel's tomb, or talking to israeli kids about their future in the 21st century. these are things obama will do very well at. i think this trip -- i would be surprised if it is not a success. there'll be some pickups, -- some hiccups, but the big piece, the public part i think is going to be successful to the extent it can. the way i see it, some say obama is just checking a box. i think he sees that the way towards managing his relationship with the israeli government runs through the israeli public. it does not mean that netanyahu is completely poll focused. i think the issue of iran as a gut issue for netanyahu. it is not just looking at p

. >> the united states of america stands with the state of israel. >> obama in israel for the first time as president. >> joking with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu that it was good to get from congress. >> you only tease the ones you love. >> i see this visit as an opportunity. >> this trip is heavy on symbolism. >> what is he taking away. >> he and netanyahu had their differences. >> we know he was sort of a supporter of romney. >> netanyahu preferred romney over obama. >> trying to influence an american election. >> there's a lot of water under the bridge. >> i think it is absolutely outrageous. >> you only tease the ones you love. >> some republicans coil at the party plans for the future. >> i know what our principles are. >> the chairman is in the hot seat. >> i am looking to get into communities in the hundreds. >> show up any time. >> i know what our principles are. >> it is what you say and do when you get there matters most to people. >> our party believes marriage is between one man and one woman. >> they haven't changed their policies. >> house republicans tomorrow

definitely most of the blame is for -- because israel is israel and america is america, but i think some mistakes were made on the side of the president as well. i think basically the president looks at mr. netanyahu as an israeli eric cantor, as a conservative rep who is presently hostile. he rejects his world, deeply rejects it. mr. netanyahu sees president obama as suspect envelope -- as an appeaser, who does not see the real world as it is, so projects weakness to a hostile and dangerous middle east. this has been a strained relationship. there were some ups, but mostly downs. here is the potential to really change that relationship. now that president obama comes to israel as victorious, as with the mag nimity and generosity of a victorious president who won the elections, does not have netanyahu threatening him, he can reach out and try to prove to them that he is a real friend and this demonization of him was totally wrong. >> now, according to the polls, and you know better than i whether the polls are accurate reflection, is israelis are suspicious of this president, despite the

but it is their tool not the goal and its tool to achieve peace meanwhile israel is trying to rearrange the occupation not to in the completion arab parties have won the same number of seats as before but what we have noticed is a decrease in the number of arab voters turning out to cast their ballot of this time we it increased by three percent compared to two thousand and nine still it is very low half of the arab voters are not participating why are you not able to get more people to vote we succeeded in stopping the decline and the decline was able to bring us to forty eight forty five but we are arrived to fifty six this is good this is a given to the direction of increases but a good percentage will be seventy or more as a minority a national minority we should vote more than the majority but we are doing the opposite and it's a mistake in the selection extreme right wing israeli parties united why are the arab parties not able to unite as well because we are not extreme but we should have one or a beautified list we tried our best to compose and to create it before the elections

iron dome offers israel protection without parallel. here's a challenge, israel has faced hailstorms of missiles from the north and hezbollah and more frequently from the south and the gaza strip where militant forces lob rockets dozens at a time. israelis running for cover, some 4,000 rockets have been launched since 2005 from gaza says "time" magazine. but then iron dome was developed. >> after just months in action, performed at success rates that normally takes years, the systems are mobile, trucked around the 8,000 square miles of israel depending on where conflicts exist. now, iron dome's key parts include a 20-missile battery and this transmission station which i'll show you here. this transmission station is just part of that. and the way the system works is there's a ground radar section that detects enemy missiles once they're launched. and you can see them here on the right-hand side. and what happens is iron dome intercepters are deployed in response. they are faster than the enemy missile and can get them head on or explode

israel alliance. please thank him for going to israel in a few weeks. [applause] this trip sends an important message to the people of israel and the world about america's commitment to the jewish state. ladies and gentlemen, i am honored to introduce and welcome a friend who stands with us now and always, a supporter of the u.s.-israel relationship, the vice president of the united states, joe biden. [applause] >> thank you, mr.president. it's great to be here. it's great to be here. ladies and gentlemen, oh, what a difference 4 years make. i look out there and see an old friend, annette lantos. annette how are you? her husband tom lantos, a survivor, was my assistant, was my foreign policy adviser for years. and tom used to say all the time, joe -- he talked that hungarian accent -- joe, we must do another fundraiser for aipac. i did more fundraisers for aipac in the 1970s and early 1980s than -- just about as many as anybody. thank god you weren't putting on shows like this. we would have never made it. we would have never made it. my lord, it's so g