AJC Welcomes Gov. Romney's Praise for Strong U.S.-Israel Relations

News provided by

Jul 29, 2012, 06:25 ET

JERUSALEM, July 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC welcomed Gov. Mitt Romney's speech today in support of Israel and the enduring strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO)

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed The Jerusalem Foundation during his visit to Israel.

"It is my firm conviction that the security of Israel is in the vital national security interest of the United States. And ours is an alliance based not only on shared interests but also on enduring shared values," Romney said.

In recent weeks, senior Obama Administration officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have also been in Israel to reaffirm the historically close U.S.-Israel ties, and to discuss joint threats posed by Iran, as well as the repercussions of the upheaval in the Arab world.

"With Hezbollah rockets aimed at Israel from the north, and Hamas rockets aimed from the south, with much of the Middle East in tumult, and with Iran bent on nuclear arms, America's vocal and demonstrated commitment to the defense of Israel is even more critical," Romney stressed. "Whenever the security of Israel is most in doubt, America's commitment to Israel must be most secure."

David Harris, executive director of the nonpartisan AJC, praised Romney's speech: "American support for Israel spans our political spectrum. This has been the welcome and underlying foundation of America's relationship with the Jewish state since its rebirth in 1948."

AJC, which for 15 years has called for strong international action to convince Iran to desist from its nuclear weapons program, and has applauded U.S. efforts to mobilize increasingly punishing global economic sanctions, welcomed Romney's equally firm warnings to Tehran.

"We should employ any and all measures to dissuade the Iranian regime from its nuclear course, and it is our fervent hope that diplomatic and economic measures will do so," said Romney. "In the final analysis, of course, no option should be excluded. We recognize Israel's right to defend itself, and that it is right for America to stand with you (Israel)."

AJC is a 501(c)(3) organization that neither endorses nor opposes candidates running for elective office.