MCCAIN SHOWS PRO-ISRAEL CREDENTIALS

In Israel visit, McCain shows his pro-Israel credentials
By Dina Kraft

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Wearing a white knitted kipah, U.S. Sen. John McCain stood at the Western Wall, tucked a note inside one of its crevices and pressed his hand on the ancient stone, striking an image meant to speak to American Jewish voters across the sea that he is indeed their man

McCain, the Arizona senator who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, spoke Wednesday of his "deep and abiding commitment to Israel" -- a theme he stressed throughout his meetings this week with Israeli leaders.

Sounding a note of commonality and understanding with his Israeli hosts, McCain said that Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah were threats not only to Israel, but to America as well.

SEE ALSO: McCain tours Sderot with Barak (JPost)
US presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain says he understands Israel's tough response to Palestinian rocket fire.

"To live with an advance notice of 15 seconds is not the way for children to celebrate Purim", said Senator John McCain Wednesday afternoon during a tour of Sderot with Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

"No nation can afford not to respond when attacked or when its citizens are attacked," added the Republican presidential candidate.

SEE ALSO: McCain Backs Israeli Reprisals in Gaza (MSNBC)
SDEROT, Israel - Touring a war-battered town, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Wednesday he understands Israel's tough response to Palestinian rocket fire, adding that there is no point in negotiating with the Gaza Strip's Islamic Hamas regime.