Democratic candidate perceived as genuine friend of Israel, say Jewish leaders Yaakov Lappin Published: 03.09.07, 19:57 / Israel News
Senator Barack Obama is fast dispelling apprehensions that may have been held by some US Jewish voters about his candidacy for the US presidency.
His energetic campaign and charismatic personality have managed to sweep many Democrats to his side, and recent polls place Barack neck and neck with Democratic competitor Hillary Clinton.
Barack's recent speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Chicago at the beginning of March has, at the very least, secured his position as a genuine friend of the State of Israel, Jewish leaders have told Ynetnews.
During the speech, Barack recounted a visit to Israel in 2006, and described the damage he saw caused to a home in Kiryat Shmona by a Hizbullah rocket before the Lebanon war.
"Just six months after I visited, Hezbollah launched 4,000 rocket attacks just like the one that destroyed that home in Kiryat Shmona and kidnapped Israeli service members," Obama said.
"And we pray for all the service members who have been kidnapped. Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser. I met with the Goldwasser family this week in my office, and I offered to help in any way I could. And I was struck by the bravery and determination, but the understandable welling sadness of a family who had heard nothing about their beloved son.
It's important to remember this history -- that Israel had unilaterally withdrawn from Lebanon only to have Iran to supply Hizbullah with thousands of rockets," he added.
Josh Block, Director of Media Relations at AIPAC, said that Obama's speech was "certainly well received."
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