If you look at military and intelligence positions from the 1950s the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been against American national interests.

Is Israel going to continue to be 'Fortress Israel'? Or as we all hope become accepted into the neighborhood which I believe is the only way we can move forward in harmony.

No country in the history of the world has ever contributed more to humankind and accomplished more for its people in so brief a period of time as Israel has done since its relatively recent rebirth in 1948.

Now when I hear that Christians are getting together in order to defend the people of Israel of course it brings joy to my heart. And it simply says look people have learned from history.

The government of Israel doesn't like the kinds of things I say which puts them into the same category as every other government in the world.

And on the other hand we see that the Israeli government is attacking that part of the Palestinian leader.

The Israeli government has proved over the past year its commitment to peace both in words and deeds. By contrast the Palestinians are posing preconditions for renewing the diplomatic process in a way they have not done over the course of 16 years.

Our forces saved the remnants of the Jewish people of Europe for a new life and a new hope in the reborn land of Israel. Along with all men of good will I salute the young state and wish it well.

To the citizens of Israel I say: we have passed difficult years faced the most painful experiences and overcame them. The future lies before us. We are required to take difficult and controversial steps but we must not miss the opportunity to try to achieve what we have wished for for so many years: security tranquillity and peace.

But there's one thing we are not going to compromise at all: when it comes to security of Israeli citizens and the State of Israel there are not going to be any compromises - not now and not in the future.

What should be the future of Israel? Is the land the most important choice and for that reason to keep the whole of the land at any cost or to have a partition and build the Jewish state on part of the land? And the other part?

Blowing up buses will not induce the Israelis to move forward and neither will the killing of Palestinians or the demolition of their homes and their future. All this needs to stop. And we pledge that Jordan will do its utmost to help achieve it.

My commitment to the security and future of Israel is based upon basic morality as well as enlightened self-interest. Our role in supporting Israel honors our own heritage.

The security and the future of Jordan is hand-in-hand with the future of the Palestinians and the Israelis.

The purpose of the Jewish state is to secure the Jewish future. That is why Israel must always have the ability to defend itself against any threat.

We have a close unshakable bond between the United States and Israel and between the American and Israeli people. We share common values and a commitment to a democratic future for the world and we are both committed to a two-state solution. But that doesn't mean that we're going to agree.

Israelis can be proud of the vibrant democracy that they have created and I know that many Rhode Islanders share my deep appreciation for the close friendship between our two nations.