U.S. Ambassador to Israel James B. Cunningham was among the featured speakers at a conference entitled "After the 2010 Congressional Elections" which was hosted Sunday by Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies. Cunningham addressed the results of last week’s midterm elections in the U.S. and said that he believes that they will not have an effect on the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. “While there are differences to be sure, both Democrats and Republicans generally agree that the United States has both a practical and moral responsibility to provide effective global leadership during the 21st century,” said Cunningham and added that on issues of security of Israel “there is strong bipartisan agreement. Republicans and Democrats both agree that our relationship with Israel is a bond that political developments will not undercut.” Cunningham added that the U.S.-Israel relationship is based on common values, partnership, and mutual interests, as well as on an unwavering bipartisan commitment to Israel security, pursuing peace and regional stability. “Our relationship with Israel is not an issue of partisan politics and it would be a negative development were it to become one,” he said. Addressing the stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Cunningham urged both sides to go back to the negotiating table and stressed that there are no shifts in U.S. attitude towards Israel. The Ambassador also addressed the situation in Iran and said that he believes diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons have not run their course. “Developments in Iran almost certainly will not run in a straight line. We have quite a few cards to play in the diplomacy part of this endeavor and it’s important that we do everything we can, working together with our Israeli friends and others, to maximize the chances for the diplomatic course to succeed.” He added that in the future a judgment will be made on the effects of diplomatic efforts, but that for now “we are encouraged by how the sanctions are being implemented now and by the impact that they’re having. Whether they will meet our hopes we can’t tell yet.” Regarding the possibility that President Barack Obama would visit Israel, Cunningham said that he is certain such a visit will indeed occur. “[Obama will] want to come in a context where his visit will have the most impact. That’s always an important consideration,” explained Cunningham. The conference was divided into three panels: Politics and Domestic Consequences, Strategy and Implications for the Middle East, and U.S.-Israel Relations. Additional guest lecturers included Deputy Foreign Minister Amb. Danny Ayalon MK, who spoke on Our Future Relationship with Washington, Amb. Yoram Ettinger, on The New Congress, MK Dr. Nachman Shai on The Jewish Vote. During his remarks Ayalon echoed Cunningham’s sentiments on the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. “I would have said the same and I think we look at most things from the same perspective,” he said. “There are some legitimate differences between friends but also as friends we have never let any differences spill over to other issues.”
