Ben Rhodes Quotes

Israel is part of the free world led by the United States, no matter what.

I believe that Israel is one of our most important friends in the world.

I know that Israel does not stand alone. I know that America stands with Israel.

My priority is to give the United States the kind of influence it should have.

Until 1956, America treated Israel not much differently from other friendly states.

When Prime Minister Erdogan came to Washington in 2009, he sounded almost like the ambassador from Iran.

Israel has always been pro-American. Israel will always be pro-American.

I cite these events because I think they underline two very disturbing phenomena - the loss of U.S. international credibility, the growing U.S. international isolation.

At this time there was but one among the great nations of the world which adhered to an active and avowed friendship for us. "We desire above all things the maintenance of the American Union as one indivisible nation," was the kindly and always to be remembered greeting that came to us from the Emperor of Russia.

There is nothing in common between the United States and Saudi Arabia except Israel.

We speak of the United States as a “benign hegemony”.

There is an alliance between Israel and the United States, and it has never been stronger than at the time of George W. Bush.

Hillary Clinton and John Kerry have left the U.S. with better relations with Iran and Cuba and worse relations with allies like Israel.

Israel may be beloved, but for American security, it is not essential.

There is nowhere I encounter greater understanding for Israel's existential issues than in the Oval Office.

The American people do not want their taxpayer dollars funding any activity that runs counter to the security of our nation or our ally Israel.

Democrats and Republicans love Israel and all of us care about the existential threat to Israel from Iran.

You've got to remember the Cold War was a very real thing then, so the relationship with the United States was very, very important. As was the relationship that I was developing with China: that was something I did very much. And they weren't conflicting things.

The United States was the first country to recognize Israel in 1948, minutes after its declaration of independence, and the deep bonds of friendship between the U.S. and Israel remain as strong and unshakeable as ever.

Mohammed bin Salman is deputy Crown Prince, but this is not so important. He is a very active statesman, we have really warm relations. This is a person who knows what he wants and can achieve his goals. At the same time I consider him to be a reliable partner with whom one can negotiate and be sure that agreements with him will be implemented.

I would hope that Europe always has a privileged relationship with the United States. The alternatives are not attractive.

That is why, as one who values the U.S.-Israel relationship, and loves Israel, I was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech — saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.

We need Trump to lead the liberal democratic order around the world. No other nation can do that the way we can, and it's going to be very hard for Congress to do it over his opposition.

Instead of a president who boycotts Prime Minister Netanyahu, imagine a president who stands unapologetically with the nation of Israel.

America has to stand by our allies. I think the tension that existed between Israel and the United States was very unfortunate.