In the days leading up to Hillary Clinton's visit to Israel today, a number of her Jewish supporters have been wrestling with and, in some cases, disapproving of her seemingly less hawkish position in support of Israel.
In her closing remarks yesterday at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Egypt, she perhaps offered more fodder for their anxious examination.
"Now, two points clearly emerged from the conference: First, that the international community is committed to providing immediate assistance to meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza and to help the Palestinian Authority's efforts to improve the lives of all the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. Second, that the assistance we are offering is integral to our broader goals of a comprehensive peace and a two-state solution.
We are working with our Palestinian partners to help pave the way for a responsible Palestinian state that can be independent, accountable to its people, and live in peace with Israel and its Arab neighbors.
President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad both displayed their leadership today as they outlined their objectives in their remarks. And it wasn't only goals. There were very specific requests that I believe helped to create the confidence that led to the very large sum of money that was pledged today.
Senator Mitchell, our Special Envoy, joined me throughout the day. And as you have already seen, the United States is prepared to engage in aggressive diplomacy with all sides in pursuit of a comprehensive settlement that brings peace and security to Israel, the Palestinians, and their Arab neighbors."
When asked if she were willing to call on Israel to freeze settlements and opening border crossings, Clinton said that she first needed to talk to Israel's new government and with the country's key players, then she added this:
"As a general principle, we believe it is important for Israel to work with its responsible Palestinian partners, including President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, to improve the lives of Palestinians, to expand opportunities for Palestinians, and to strengthen their capacity to govern the Palestinian people and move toward a viable state.
As I said in my remarks, to me, this is about what happens to the children in Gaza and the West Bank. I got into politics because I care deeply about what happens to children. I could never have imagined that I'd be sitting here as the United States Secretary of State. My work has always been about how to give children a better chance to live up to their God-given potential.
A child in Gaza has the same right as a child anywhere in the world to a good education, to health care, and to a better future. Parents in the West Bank have the same right as parents anywhere in the world to a good job, to housing, to a better opportunity for their children.
That is what motivates me, and I believe that will be the basis on which we discuss how best to realize the goal of a two-state solution, a comprehensive peace, and a better future for Israeli and Palestinian children."
