Christie: Weekend with Bibi at Camp David
Camp David – the historic resort that has hosted many peace summits bad retreats over the past decades – may soon become a place for therapy sessions and the forging a new relationship.
In a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach at the World Values Network in NYC, Thursday evening, Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said, “I want to have Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu here, by himself, at Camp David for a long weekend. And I want to say to the Prime Minister that in the first evening together is dedicated for allowing him to vent about what it has been like over the last number of years” his working with President Obama.
“It is going to be a long evening,” Christie quipped. “That’s why I am restricting it to only one evening of the long weekend – three of four days – we would spend together.”
According to Christie, the first thing on the agenda is to reestablish the U.S. alliance with Israel.
Christie said that after much thought he could not come up with a rational reason for the “public, dismissive treatment of the elected Prime Minister of Israel.” He further agreed to Rabbi Shmuley’s assessment that Obama hasn’t been fair to Israel. “The only person he has the guts to speak out against is Bibi Netanyahu,” he said.
Asked if he would push for the creation of a Palestinian State, Christie said the U.S. is not in a position right now to push for anything and start making significant demands “because we have not supported Israel.” The only way the U.S. would be able to make any demands is if Israel knows that “our friendship is unshakable,” and by making concessions they know they have backup of the most powerful military in the world, he added. “If you’re in Israel right now, you are very concerned, rightfully so. about what is the nature of that continued support.”
Although he didn’t affirm it as a statement, Christie said he would support moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
During the hour-long conversation, Christie explained why in his view the Iran nuclear threat is a bigger threat to the U.S. than ISIS. “Our relationship with Iran is complicating our capability to put together an incorporated coalition to fight ISIS,” the NJ Governor stated. “Add to that the Iranian nuclear capabilities; add to that the Iranian sponsorship of terrorism; add to that the Iranian attitude towards Israel; and add the that the Iranian’s goal of a persian empire – you add that up and Iran is simple an enormous threat. And above that, the ISIS threat becomes worse because it is much harder for us, given the way the administration is treating Iran, for us to be able to put together U.S. allies and Sunni-Arab allies to fight ISIS.”
Christie argued that those who voted in favor of the nuclear deal – mentioning by name Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Jerry Nadler – have “tarnished” their legacy and reputation on foreign policy given Iran’s recent action. “They made the world a darker and more dangerous place. There was no need to rush for this deal,” the Republican presidential hopeful asserted. “Their legacy has been tarnished; their objectivity has been tarnished. And, even more so, their judgement is now in question on foreign policy matters.”
“Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon on my watch,” Christie proclaimed. “If we need to use military action, we will.”