Clinton chides, reassures Israel in AIPAC speech

[laststeamtrain]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Clinton chides, reassures Israel in AIPAC speech
By Warren P. Strobel, McClatchy Newspapers Mon Mar 22, 10:51 am ET

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought Monday to reassure Israel of the Obama administration's strong backing after the worst friction between the countries in almost 20 years, even as she reiterated U.S. objections to continued Israeli building in East Jerusalem .

Speaking to the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the powerful Jewish-American lobby, Clinton declared that the administration's commitment to Israel is "rock solid, enduring, unwavering and forever."

She promised "sanctions that will bite" for Iran's suspected nuclear-weapons program, which is Israel's No. 1 security concern.

Relations between the White House and Israel were strained severely earlier this month when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden , announced plans to construct 1,600 homes in Palestinian-claimed East Jerusalem .

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100322/wl_mcclatchy/3457962