Discussion on US-Israel Relations

Let me explain something about what is called the Jewish

lobby in this country. Their belief is that being for

Israel first, that that does not mean you're putting America

second.

An American president, however, has to approach it in a different way,

in my

opinion.

He's got always to think first of what is best for America.

An American president must make a decision that does not in

effect give the Israelis a blank check.

And one example of that is a decision that I made.

Uh, I decided early on in our administration

that we were going to seek good

relations with Egypt and other,

others of Israel's, uh, neighbors.

Uh, many of my Israeli friends, uh, didn't like that, uh, because they

wanted a special relationship with Israel and Israel only.