The two presidential candidates, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton and Donald John Trump, spoke in front 18,000 American Israel delegates, as they vowed their protection and strong allegiance to Middle East and Israel relations.
In front of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Republican (AIPAC), during its annual meeting held at Washington's Verizon Center, the two presidentiables had their chance to speak of a similar goal, to pledge their support to the troubled Jewish community. But they had different means on how to achieve it.
On one hand, Hillary Clinton promised she would firmly stand aongside Israel. Her very words to convince the crowd, according to Tampabay, "You'll get a glimpse of a potential U.S. foreign policy that would insult our allies, not engage them, and embolden our adversaries, not defeat them. For the security of Israel and the world, we need America to remain a respected global leader, committed to defending and advancing the international order."
Clinton added a forceful rhetoric agains her rival Trump, saying that Trump will be an unreliable leader for one of U.S.' closest allies. She said, "We need steady hands, not a president who says he's neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday, and who-knows-what on Wednesday."
Hours later, when it was Donald Trump's turn, he suprised the skeptical crowd by carefully following his prepared script. Trump was known for his eschewed scripts and raucious rallies. But at the AIPAC meeting, he appeared more subdued than usual.
Trump offered a standard appeal to his American Israel audience. According to New York Times, he promised, "When I become president the days of treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on Day 1." He added that his rival Hillary Clinton and the present Obama administration have treated Israel very, very badly.
That day, Trump pledged his full support to Middle East and Isreal. But his statement contrasted to his own views the previous month, when he announced that he wil be neutral with the peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
Trump received lesser applause from the crowd than when Clinton's speech ended.
