Jeb: Obama’s caused ‘tremendous erosion’ of Israel ties

Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.) said Thursday that the Obama administration has fundamentally weakened America’s friendship with Israel.

“Given the deep historic, cultural, and emotional ties that bind the United States and Israel, as well as our shared interests in fighting the growing terrorist threat and combating Iranian aggression, the U.S.-Israel relationship should be stronger than ever,” the GOP presidential candidate wrote in an op-ed for Fox News.

{mosads}“Yet under Obama, Clinton and Kerry we have seen a tremendous erosion of this essential alliance,” he said, citing President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, her successor.  

“If we cannot stand with our ally Israel in the face of this terror, we cannot be relied on to lead the world in the name of free people any longer,” Bush added. “President Obama and Hillary Clinton have demonstrated they are not up to the task.”

Bush wrote that Obama’s landmark nuclear arms accord with Iran earlier this year puts Israel at risk.

“Obama and Clinton promised to always have Israel’s back, but instead they went behind Israel’s back in conducting secret negotiations with Iran,” Bush said.

“The deal Obama reached with Iran ignores Iran’s support for terrorism and missile proliferation that directly threatens Israel, and has rewarded Iran with more than $100 billion to spend on its terrorism proxies.”

Bush noted that the risk of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians ranks among the highest of any nation in the world.

“Israeli citizens have for decades lived with the daily threat of terror on their doorstep, in their communities, and when they travel abroad,” he wrote.

“Today, while old enemies like Hezbollah and Hamas continue to threaten Israel, the Jewish state has also seen a new threat emerge inside its borders,” Bush continued. “A string of stabbings, hit-and-runs, and shootings of innocents whose only crime was being Jewish is but the latest form of anti-Israeli terror.

“This recent surge in violence has left Israeli citizens vulnerable in their everyday life, and cries out for allies who understand how disruptive such a threat could be,” the former Florida governor added. “As president, I will restore resolve, consistency and moral clarity to America’s efforts to combat terrorism.”  

Bush’s op-ed coincides with a daylong campaign forum hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Thursday.  

The event presents Bush and other Republican White House hopefuls with a major opportunity to appeal to Jewish donors and voters.

Sheldon Adelson, one of the nation’s wealthiest and most coveted political contributors, sits on the RJC’s board of directors.