AIPAC & AJC Praise Obama for Cooperation with Israel during Embassy Attack

David Streeter — September 13, 2011 – 9:38 am | Foreign Policy | Israel | Obama Comments (0) Add a comment

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) both praised President Barack Obama for his work over the weekend to protect the Israeli diplomats stationed in Cairo.

AIPAC said:

AIPAC appreciates the immediate intervention by President Obama and the U.S. Administration to guarantee the safety of Israeli diplomats and their families whose lives were in danger by an Egyptian mob at the Israeli embassy in Cairo. AIPAC encourages the U.S. to continue to urge Egypt to adhere to its treaty obligations with Israel under the Camp David Accords and its international commitments to maintain the safety of foreign embassies and diplomats.

AJC wrote in a letter to Obama:

Dear Mr. President:

We write to express our gratitude for the swift and effective intervention of the United States in helping secure the safety of personnel besieged by a raging mob at the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.

Following your urgent discussion last night with Prime Minister Netanyahu, U.S. actions to assure the prompt dispatch of Egyptian commandos to rescue the trapped Israelis prevented a personal tragedy.

We know that American assistance to its democratic ally Israel in this fast-developing crisis - only the latest example of a historic and mutually beneficial partnership - also averted further strain in Egyptian-Israel relations, a pillar of regional peace and stability.

For this and other acts of close American cooperation with Israel and other nations that share and defend our values, please know that you have our full support.

Respectfully,

Robert H. Elman and David A. Harris

AIPAC and AJC’s praise is in addition to the praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said, “We owe [Obama] a special measure of gratitude” for personally intervening and doing everything he could to ensure the safety of Israel’s diplomats. Click here to read what else Netanyahu said.

Also, the Orthodox newspaper Hamodia said in its editorial entitled “Thank You Mr. President,” “The Jewish community all over the world offers him [Obama] our heartfelt thanks.” Click here to read what else Hamodia said. 

 

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