Documents and Sources | Page 5 of 7

President Barack Obama’s Speech at Cairo University, 2009

Obama, to improve America’s image with Muslim public opinion, stresses that Islam is not that of the ideological radicals. His advocacy of ‘soft power’ distinguishes his administration from Bush II’s use of force. He did not state directly that Iran should be stopped from developing a nuclear weapon. He said that US commitment to Israel is ‘unbreakable.’ Nine years later Trump’s Secretary of State, also in Cairo heavily criticized Obama’s ‘soft power’ approach.

Documents and Sources|June 4, 2009

Prime Minister Netanyahu at Bar-Ilan University on 2-State Solution, 2009

Thirteen years ago, then Prime Minister Netanyahu endorsed the evolution of a Palestinian state, stipulating that it had to be demilitarized, and he would not rule out a complete halt to settlement activity, noting that Palestinian refugees would not be resettled inside Israel’s borders.

Documents and Sources|June 14, 2009|Spanish|Hebrew

Remarks by Secretary of Defense Panetta, 2011

The speech is typical of high American office holders in summarizing the US-Israeli relationship; it affirms an unshakable relationship, support for Israeli security, and the need for negotiating progress.

Documents and Sources|December 2, 2011

Vice President Joe Biden’s Remarks to the Rabbinical Assembly, 2012

Vice President Joe Biden emphatically tells a rabbinic group in Atlanta, “unambiguously, were I an Israeli, were I a Jew, I would not contract out my security to anybody, even to a loyal, loyal friend like the United States.”

Documents and Sources|May 8, 2012|Spanish

U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, 2012

Building on a collaborative relationship of over 50 years, the US once again affirms its strategic commitments to Israel through an additional “Security Cooperation Act.” The agreement bolsters American military and financial aid to Israel.

Documents and Sources|July 27, 2012

Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to the AIPAC Policy Conference, 2013

Biden’s is seized by Iran’s nuclear weapons program, and its continued support of terrorist organizations, like Hezbollah and Hamas; they endanger Israel and the world. Golda Meir told him. “Israel’s secret weapon; it has no place to go.”

Documents and Sources|March 4, 2013

Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry at the Saban Forum, 2013

Kerry reaffirms that the US-Israeli relationship as an “unshakable bond” and calls for a two-state solution. He promises that the US will “never allow” Iran to gain a nuclear weapon.

Documents and Sources|December 7, 2013

Remarks on Israeli-Palestinian Talks by U.S. Negotiator Ambassador Martin Indyk, 2014

As part of the US negotiating team, Indyk enumerates why talks faltered after nine months. He asserts Israeli settlement activity undermined Palestinian trust for Israel. He also blames Palestinian indecision.

Documents and Sources|May 8, 2014

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1860 on Gaza Fighting, 2009

Following two weeks of Israeli-Hamas fighting, it calls for a cease-fire, and for a “lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by peaceful means.” The Hamas-Israeli war occurs again in 2013-2014.

Documents and Sources|January 8, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses Congress on Iranian Nuclear Program, 2015

Netanyahu praises the Obama administration for its support of Israel’s security, then roundly criticizes it for negotiating a deal with Iran that will not roll back its nuclear breakout time and for not demanding that before sanctions are lifted that Iran stop its support of terrorism and threats to wipe Israel off the map.

Documents and Sources|March 3, 2015|Spanish

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — Containing Iran’s Access to Nuclear Weapons

Under the deal between Iran and five world powers, Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars of sanctions relief. Israel called the deal too lenient. On May 8, 2018, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA, calling it one of the “worst and most one-sided” agreements in U.S. history. Israel’s objectives in attacking Iran in June 2025 focused on the same central features Israel argued a decade earlier were not sufficiently addressed in the JCPOA.

Documents and Sources|July 14, 2015|Spanish

Remarks by President Obama on the Iran Nuclear Deal at American University, 2015

Vigorously promoting this Iran Deal as a viable way to block and limit Iran pathways to a bomb. While recognizing Israel’s intense trepidation to the deal, he forcefully claims that war remains the only alternative to accepting this agreement, or to any changes to the agreement.

Documents and Sources|August 5, 2015

Secretary of State John Kerry’s Address to the Saban Forum, 2015

Kerry states five major objectives for US foreign policy in the Middle East: mobilize partners to defeat ISIS, work diplomatically to end the civil war in Syria, keep it from destabilizing friendly nearby countries, monitor Iranian adherence to the nuclear deal, and seek a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Documents and Sources|December 5, 2015

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro’s Address to Security Conference in Tel Aviv, 2016

Claiming that Israel employs a double legal standard in the West Bank, US Ambassador Dan Shapiro receives a harsh rebuke for his remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu; Obama administration continues to chide Israel for its management of the West Bank.

Documents and Sources|January 18, 2016

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice’s Remarks at American Jewish Committee Global Forum, 2016

US National Security Adviser, Susan Rice presented the Obama administration’s two pronged outlook toward Israel: strong and unwavering American administration support for Israel’s long term security, and emphatic opposition to continued Israeli settlement activities.

Documents and Sources|June 6, 2016

U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding on Military Aid, 2016

The US promises Israel $38 billion in military aid over a decade, the assistance promised despite Jerusalem and Washington periodically differing over matters relating to Iran and the Palestinians.

Documents and Sources|September 14, 2016

Egyptian-Drafted U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 on Israeli Settlements and East Jerusalem, 2016

December 23, 2016 U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 on Israeli Settlements and East Jerusalem https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12657.doc.htm Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980),…

Documents and Sources|December 23, 2016

Senator Kamala Harris Addresses 2017 AIPAC Conference

Two months into her Senate position, Harris promised “to do everything in my power to ensure broad and bipartisan support for Israel’s security and right to self-defense.” She endorsed the 10 year, $38 billion US military aid package to Israel while strongly backing (seven years before October 2023) a two-state Palestinian-Israeli solution.”

Documents and Sources|March 28, 2017

President Trump’s Speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit in Saudi Arabia, 2017

Backpedaling from previously hardline statements on Islam, President Trump refers to Islam as “one of the world’s great faiths” calling for “tolerance and respect for each other.” He implored Muslim leaders to fight against radical Islam, which he portrayed as a “…a battle between good and evil.”

Documents and Sources|May 21, 2017

Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, May 2017

After visiting Saudi Arabia, Trump meets with Netanyahu where both assert joint views on the peace process, Iran, regional cooperation, and the long-standing relationship between Israel and the US; Trumps second meeting with Netanyahu since taking office.

Documents and Sources|May 22, 2017

President Trump’s Speech Recognizing Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel, 2017

President Trump’s proclamation to “officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel” breaks precedent. In doing so, he incurs bipartisan support in the US congress, but a flurry of criticism from analysts, diplomats and foreign leaders. In his remarks, Trump rebukes claims that he disqualified the US as a “reliable mediator” in future Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

Documents and Sources|December 6, 2017

Vice President Pence’s Speech to the Knesset, 2018

Vice President Pence firmly expresses American commitments to Israel’s security and commitment to the Arab-Israeli peace process. Palestinian Authority President Abbas and other Arab officials loudly criticize the speech and refuse to meet with Pence during his Middle East visit because of earlier US promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Documents and Sources|January 22, 2018

Ambassador Haley’s Remarks at U.N. Security Council Briefing on Middle East, 2018

Responding to PA President Abbas’ speech at the U.N. and the PA’s rejection of the U.S. as a legitimate participant in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, Ambassador Haley clarifies American positions on Jerusalem and the negotiating process.

Documents and Sources|February 20, 2018

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Anti-Iran-Deal Speech, 2018

With reams of evidence secured by Israeli intelligence, the PM calls out Iran for lying about their nuclear activities both before and since signing the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement with six countries.

Documents and Sources|April 30, 2018

U.S. and Israel