Sen. Barack Obama gave a speech Tuesday, addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), stating that Jerusalem must "remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."
"Any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized and defensible borders," said Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee during the AIPAC annual meeting.
Obama hit chords with his statement as both Isrealis and Palestinians want control of Jerusalem.
Obama also spoke about Iran but stood by his previous statements that he would meet with Iranian leaders if the conditions were appropriate.
"Because of the war in Iraq, Iran - which always posed a greater threat to Israel than Iraq - is emboldened, and poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States and Israel in the Middle East in a generation," said Obama.
"Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking. But as president of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leader at a time and place of my choosing -- if, and only if it can advance the interests of the United States," continued Obama.
When speaking of the war in Iraq, Obama challenged Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain for his Iraq policy. "Sen. McCain offers a false choice: Stay the course in Iraq, or cede the region to Iran," said Obama in his AIPAC speech. "I reject this logic because there is a better way. Keeping all of our troops tied down indefinitely in Iraq is not the way to weaken Iran -- it is precisely what has strengthened it."
Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke directly after Obama, reiterating many of his thoughts and called him "a friend of Israel".
"It has been an honor to contest these primaries with him. It is an honor to call him my friend. And let me be very clear: I know that Sen. Obama will be a good friend to Israel," said Clinton.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is an American advocacy group that lobbies the United States Congress and White House for strong American support of Israel.
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