Mr. President, an American president's visit to our country is a day of celebration. This is how it's always been viewed by most of the Israeli public, as well as the country's leaders. It is an authentic expression of the sense of closeness between the two peoples and the brave partnership between our countries. This friendship does not depend on the leaders' identities or party affiliations, and takes precedence over any dispute.
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The special relationship between our countries is multifaceted and intended to serve common interests, but it is based on common values – the commitment to the values of democracy, liberty, justice, and peace, which is deeply rooted in our people's legacy and culture and plays a central role in their vision.
Israeli leaders will welcome you by saying that "Israel has no closer ally than the United States" and expect you to agree, or at least nod in agreement, with the second part of that sentence: "and the US has no closer friend in the Middle East than Israel."
Even from a cold, pragmatic point of view, which of course is far from characterizing our relations, Israel is the most worthwhile investment for the US! Israel is an asset to the US in security, economics, and technology, as a nation of knowledge and science, innovation and startup. Israel is building itself up and growing stronger, first and foremost for itself – to ensure its existence as a Jewish, democratic, strong, safe, and flourishing state, as befits its historic destiny and the vision to which it is committed.
But obviously, this growing power serves American interests, too, especially in the Middle East, given the instability that has rocked our world. Strengthening the scientific-technological partnership between Israel and the US could have great potential for our countries. It is seen as a blessing and could bless the entire world.
We appreciate your commitment to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. That commitment is vital in ensuring the stability of the countries in this region. Still, it is not enough. Implementing it through a deal that will only put off by a few years the day when Iran can achieve nuclear weapons simply perpetuates the danger, especially if it allows Iran to retain secret enrichment capabilities, makes do with only limited oversight, and does not include automatic punishments for violations.
A deal like that will keep the ayatollah regime's hope and likelihood of achieving nuclear weapons alive. It will push the rest of the countries in the region into a nuclear arms race and be a sure recipe for clashes and instability.
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It will also have a dramatic influence on Iran's growing power, on every level, when, as payment for Iran returning to the deal, it unfreezes tens of millions of dollars now frozen and eases the current restrictions. Rather than binding Iran's hands, the deal will open the door to nuclearization, restore its status, strengthen its capabilities and provide air to the mechanisms of oppression and proxy forces it operates.
We need not mention that the threat Iran poses is not merely to its regional neighbors. When Israel is assigned the dubious epithet "Little Satan," you don't need to guess who the "Big Satan" is whose values and culture pose a threat to the achievements of the "Islamic Revolution."
Mr. President, the lessons of the war in Europe demand that world leaders look farther ahead than two, five, or even 10 years when addressing current dilemmas. It would be wrong to mortgage the future and put it in such serious peril merely out of a desire to be free of the burden of the decisions that must be made in the present.
The Ukraine war illustrates the limits of the western world's deterrence when faced with radical acts of force by a nuclear nation: the world tiptoes around conflicts in which nuclear states are involved. The term "nuclear umbrella" is taking on a painful meaning before our very eyes. One does not need a vivid imagination to guess what Iran would allow itself and the forces it operates to perpetrate if, heaven forbid, it had nuclear weapons.
Under your leadership, the US can prevent that scenario.
We believe that the American superpower is capable of doing that in a way that will not lead to a war at present and will reduce the chances of a war in the future. This demands the full, forceful application of crippling sanctions alongside a credible military option. The goal must be to lead Iran to a deal that will absolutely eradicate for all time its ability to develop or procure nuclear weapons, while also exacting from it a price that will cast doubt on the feasibility of the aggressive approach it has adopted, including involvement in various forms of terrorism. The US must not compromise on anything less. Dealing with the Iranian challenge is an opportunity for the US to strengthen its leadership when it comes to the challenges of our time and prove that it is capable of bringing the order and stability whose absence is felt everywhere to the world order. Checking Iran's aggression and nuclear aspirations is a condition for quiet and stability, and a base on which the pragmatic nations in the region – together with Israel – can make additional progress toward a new era for the Middle East.
