President Shimon Peres on motzei Shabbos 8 Shevat 5773 at his Jerusalem residence, held a working meeting with a US Senate delegation led by the Republican presidential candidate in 2008, Sen. John McCain. President Peres thanked Senator McCain and addressed the bipartisan support for Israel in the United States specifically on the Iranian issue; “We appreciate the American position on Iran, that it cannot be permitted a nuclear weapon if possible by civilian means but that all options are on the table.”

President Peres added that a bipartisan delegation from the United States sends a message, “that America remains engaged in the great march for freedom and peace in the region.” President Peres also addressed the ongoing bloodshed in Syria and said, “I have a great deal of sorrow and worry about the ongoing bloodshed in Syria. We all wish that the Middle East will become a region of peace which will answer the demands of the young generation.”

Senator McCain thanked President Peres and said, “We’ve had a very interesting trip; we’ve been to Cairo, we’ve been to Afghanistan and this morning we were in a refugee camp in Jordan to see the suffering of the Syrian people up close and its very moving to see thousands and thousands of people who have to leave their homes, their families. Some are wounded because of the brutal dictatorship of Assad, all of us believe that Assad’s departure is inevitable but we’re also very concerned how long that process will take.” Senator McCain added that, “Israel is an island of hope and a beacon to people all over the world who see Israel as a model and as an example of democracy and freedom.”

Following on from the joint statements President Peres and the delegation continued to a private meeting during which they discussed strengthening the strategic relations between Israel and the United States of America, the major issues facing Israel today including relations with neighboring countries and the Iranian threat. The delegation led by Sen. John McCain of the Senate Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees also includes: Senator Kelly Ayotte, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Christopher Coons, Christian Brose, a senior advisor on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapira.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)