If you want to know what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said to AIPAC Policy Conference this morning, you can figure out the basics just by counting her standing ovations (8 in total) or reading the articles immediately generated after her speech.
There’s Newsweek’s blog (Hillary Takes Frank Tone in Speech to Israel Lobby), the Wall Street Journal Blog (AIPAC Gives Clinton a Warm Welcome), the Washington Post (Clinton: new Israeli construction hurts peace), or my favorite from Ron over at JTA (Hillary, AIPAC leaders: Making the hurt plain – but the love too).
But we over at TC Jewfolk thought you might be interested in what Minnesota folks had to say about Hillary’s speech, so we interviewed a handful of the Minnesota delegates at AIPAC Policy Conference about what they thought.
Jacob Millner, Director of Public Affairs for the JCRC of Minnesota and the Dakotas told us, “Overall, Hillary Clinton made some strong and good points. She reaffirmed America’s commitment to Israel, the importance of the existence of a Jewish state, and she spoke about upping foreign assistance to Israel under the Obama administration, which is critical.”
Other members of Minnesota’s delegation were a bit more critical.
Dan Garon, University of Minnesota Student
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcEDgkga8vY
Rabbi Berel Simpser, AISH Minnesota
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t25s8VDep64
Here’s a taste of Hillary’s Speech:
“The forces that threaten Israel also threaten the United States of America. . . . This administration will always stand for Israel’s right to defend itself. . . . Let me assure you as I have assured you on previous occasions, for President Obama and for me, and for this entire administration, our commitment to Israel’s security is rock solid, enduring and forever. . . . Why is that? Our countries and our people are bound together by our shared values of freedom, democracy, and the right to live free from fear.
“Let me be clear. The United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. . . . [O]ur aim is not incremental sanctions, but sanctions that will bite. . . . We will not compromise our commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring these nuclear weapons. . . . And of this you [Israel] can be absolutely sure. The United States and the American people will stand will you. . . . God bless Israel and God bless the United States of America.”
But really, we encourage you to watch Hillary’s full speech here and make your own opinion about what she said. Who said Jews ever let someone else make an opinion for them?
(Leora Maccabee and Jenna Mitelman collaborated on this post)
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
