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.

Americans admire a people who can scratch a desert and produce a garden. The Israelis have shown qualities that Americans identify with: guts patriotism idealism a passion for freedom. I have seen it. I know. I believe that.

Our law is a Jordanian law that we inherited which applies to both the West Bank and Gaza and sets the death penalty for those who sell land to Israelis.

You don't have any communication between the Israelis and the Iranians. You have all sorts of local triggers for conflict. Having countries act on a hair trigger - where they can't afford to be second to strike - the potential for a miscalculation or a nuclear war through inadvertence is simply too high.

I cannot say that the attitude of the United Nations always is for the Israeli attitude. Israel I think has been under severe attacks by members of the United Nations many times.

Iran has long sponsored terrorists who carry out homicide bombings in Israeli cities. However it is a mistake to believe the danger Iran poses is directed at Israel alone.