Hillary Clinton attacks Donald Trump's 'neutral' stance on Israel-Palestine negotiations

As the race for the US presidential elections heats up between Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, Clinton launched an attack on Trump's 'neutral' stance on Israel. Speaking at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington on 21 March, Clinton said that Israel's security is 'non-negotiable'.

"We need steady hands, not a president who says he's neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday, and who knows what on Wednesday, because everything's negotiable," said Clinton. "My friends, Israel's security is non-negotiable." Appearing before over 15,000 attendees, Clinton said America needs to elect "a president with a deep personal commitment to Israel's future."

Trump, who will address the AIPAC later on 21 March, said earlier in December 2015 that the relationship between Israel and Palestine is the "toughest negotiation" of any kind, insisting that he wants to be a neutral broker and is the best US Presidential candidate for resolving the negotiations.

He has also maintained that he is an Israel supporter. Clinton, however, condemned Trump's political strategies and warned against a US 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... able to block efforts to isolate or attack Israel...The alternative is unthinkable," said Clinton, reported France24 News. Clinton said Middle East security cannot be outsourced to dictators. "It would be a serious mistake for the United States to abandon our responsibilities or cede the mantle of leadership for global peace and security to anyone else."

Clinton's rival within the Democratic camp, Senator Bernie Sanders, reportedly declined AIPAC's invitation due to his busy schedule in western states. "Obviously, issues impacting Israel and the Middle East are of the utmost importance to me, to our country and to the world," wrote Sanders in a letter addressed to the AIPAC.