Hillary Digs Hard at Trump's 'Neutral' Statements in AIPAC Speech

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as part of a lengthy speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington Monday morning, lambasted all three of the remaining Republican candidates and their visions for Israel, including Donald Trump's promise that he would remain "neutral" on Israel and the Palestinians.

"Tonight, you will hear from candidates with very different visions of American leadership in the region and around the world," Clinton said of Trump, John Kasich, and Ted Cruz, without mentioning any of them by name. "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. An America able to block efforts to isolate or attack Israel. The alternative is unthinkable."

And, in another direct dig on Trump, to cheers and applause from the crowd, "We need steady hands, not a president who says he is neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday and who knows what on Wednesday because everything is negotiable. Well, my friends, Israel's security is non-negotiable."

She told the crowd that she has been in Israeli hospital rooms, holding the hands of male and female victims of terrorism, and she feels strongly "that America can't ever be neutral when it comes to Israel's security or survival. We can't be neutral when rockets rain down on residential neighborhoods, when civilians are stabbed in the street, when suicide bombers target the innocent. Some things aren't negotiable, and anyone who doesn't understand that has no business being our president."

And later in a return to Trump, again without mentioning him by name, she noted that Americans are hearing words and actions on the campaign trail that are "encouraging violence, playing coy with white supremacists, calling for 12 million immigrants to be rounded up and deported. Demanding we turn away refugees because of their religion and proposing a ban on all Muslims entering the United States."

Trump, the Republican front-runner, was to address the AIPAC conference later in the day, along with his Republican rivals, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich. Clinton's challenger, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, was not appearing at the event.

Trump has drawn fire for his position on Middle East peace negotiations. The New York billionaire has described himself as extremely pro-Israel but has said he would take a "neutral" stance in trying to negotiate an elusive peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Trump's critics have said a neutral position could harm long-standing U.S. support for Israel. Clinton said she would make it a priority if elected to preserve the U.S.-Israeli relationship, ensuring Israel has a qualitative military edge.

Clinton also took aim at Trump's vow that, if elected, he would deport illegal immigrants and bar Muslims temporarily from entering the United States.

She noted an incident during the 1930s, when the United States initially refused entry to a shipload of Jews trying to escape Nazi tyranny.

"We've had dark chapters in our history before," Clinton said. "We remember the nearly 1,000 Jews aboard the St. Louis who were refused entry in 1939 and sent back to Europe. But America should be better than this. And I believe it is our responsibility to say so.

"If you see bigotry, oppose it, if you see violence, condemn it, if you see a bully, stand up to him," she said.

Material from Reuters was used in this report.