Clinton: ‘Israelis Know’ I’ve Been A Strong Supporter of Israel

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on Sunday touted her strong support for Israel as Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz suggested that she and Donald Trump share a similar “neutral” stance on Israel.

“The Israelis know that I have been a strong and stalwart partner for Israel going back decades, along with my husband,” Clinton told John Catsimatidis on the “Cats Roundtable” radio program on AM 970 in New York. “And I will continue to do what I have done to protect Israel, to make sure Israel has the strongest possible defense and to do what I can to promote a two-state solution, which I personally believe is in Israel’s interest.”

In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Cruz argued that the two respective front-runners are the “flip sides of the same coin” on domestic and foreign policy issues alike. “[Trump] can’t criticize her on foreign policy because Donald agrees with Hillary Clinton that America should be neutral between Israel and the Palestinians, and he also agrees with Hillary Clinton that we should keep in place this disastrous Iranian nuclear deal,” Cruz told host Chuck Todd.

Cruz also suggested that Trump’s foreign policy speech last week reflected a “weak and naive” view of foreign policy. “In this speech, Donald Trump once again didn’t stand with Israel,” the Republican presidential hopeful said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday morning program. “You know, that’s what we’ve seen for seven years. If you like this administration not standing with Israel that’s what Donald Trump has said he would do.”

“And listen, on Iran, Donald Trump said he would keep in place this disastrous Iranian nuclear deal. He agrees with Hillary Clinton on this. I am the only candidate running who will rip the Iranian deal to shreds on day one,” he added.

During her interview with John Catsimatidis, Clinton acknowledged that she supported the Iran nuclear deal as she led the effort to bring together a coalition in support of the sanctions regime that drove Iran to the negotiation table. But she also promised she would “come down hard” if Iran deviates “one centimeter” from the agreement.