Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, arguing that it is time to turn the page on the Obama administration’s turbulent relationship with Israel.
“I value our friendship greatly and I know President Trump does as well,” the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning. “Now is the time to strengthen and affirm this important partnership as we move on from eight years of often needless tension.”
McConnell recalled that the Obama administration in its final days in office abstained during an important United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction, an action that allowed the council to approve the resolution.
“One of its last actions in office was to abandon our ally Israel, and in so doing, to undermine any semblance of a peace process by encouraging the Palestinians to forego direct negotiations,” McConnell said.
The Senate leader will meet with Netanyahu late Wednesday afternoon to “reiterate” his determination “to work with our new administration and underline America’s commitment to achieving peace with the Palestinians through a negotiated settlement in a way that protects Israel’s vital national security interests.
“Our nations face many common threats,” he said. “Strengthening this relationship makes each of us safer.”
