Thursday, November 3, 2005

HILLARY GOING TO ISRAEL

 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's aides said on Wednesday that she was planning to go to Israel next week to discuss American-Israeli relations, in a trip that may help her strengthen her support among Jews in New York as she faces re-election next year.

 

The visit by Mrs. Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will include meetings on security issues with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres, the deputy prime minister. In her meeting with Mr. Sharon, Mrs. Clinton plans to discuss developments stemming from Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and to reiterate her condemnation of remarks made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran calling for the destruction of Israel.

 

Mrs. Clinton is also planning to visit part of the security fence in the West Bank that the Israeli government built to protect its citizens from incursions by terrorists. Mrs. Clinton's advisers say she supported construction of the fence, which has been criticized by Palestinian leaders and others.

 

This will be Mrs. Clinton's second trip to Israel since she took office. In the 2000 Senate race, the security of Israel became an issue in the campaign, with Mrs. Clinton's Republican opponent, Representative Rick A. Lazio, challenging her commitment to Israel.

 

The trip will give Mrs. Clinton a chance to attend several high-profile events centering on issues of apparent importance to Jews here and in Israel. It will also give her the opportunity to stand beside prominent Israelis.

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