No better friend

In their criticisms of President Obama, perhaps Alex Rose and A. Schneininger (Letters, July 25) have forgotten that Shimon Peres and Ehud Barak praised the president as doing more for Israel’s security than any other president in our history.

Perhaps they have forgotten that the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad have confirmed that cooperation between them and the CIA has never been better.

Perhaps they have forgotten that Benjamin Netanyahu called the president directly to thank him for thwarting an effort by the UN to condemn Israel for expanding settlement-building and blocking any attempt to seat the Palestinian Authority.

Perhaps they have forgotten that President Obama is the first President to have a seder in the White House and continues to do so.

President Obama did not start negotiations because he needs a trophy, as Ms. Schneininger states. The opposite is true. Most political pundits believe the chances of an agreement leading to a two-state solution are almost nil, and the president has placed himself in a lose-lose situation.Most experts in and outside of Israel believe that the status quo cannot last much longer without more bloodshed being spilled. That is what the president and secretary of state are trying to avoid.

Yes, the president believes, like every other president before him, that negotiations should start at the ‘67 line with agreed-upon swaps.

Yes, the president, like every other president before him, believes that the continued expansion of settlements is a detriment to peace.

Yes, the president is hesitant to get us into another conflict with Iran, which clearly the large majority of Americans would oppose.

However, despite their differences, Israel has never had a better friend in the White House.

Marvin Bograd
East Windsor