Israel. But it takes two to tango. And the rest of the arab world has to get in the game. We are under no illusions about how difficult it will be difficult to achieve. Some of you in the audience have said why do we even talk about it anymore . Well, its going to require hard steps on both sides whether its in all of our interests, israels interests, United States interests, the interests of the palestine people. We have a profound interest in peace. To use the expression of a former president , bill clinton, we have to get caught trying. We have to get caught trying. So we remain. We remain deeply engaged. As president obama has said, while there are those who question whether this goal may ever be reached, we make no apologies for continuing to pursue that goal, to pursue a Better Future and hell make that clear when he goes to israel later this month. We are also mindful, we are also mindful that pursuing a Better Future for israel means israel confronts the myriad threats it faces in the neighborhood. Its a tough neighborhood and it starts with iran. Not only in israels interests i know you understand this, but its not only israels interests, but iran does not acquire a Nuclear Weapon. Its in the interests of the United States of america. Its simple. And as a matter of fact [applause] its in the interests of the entire world. Iraqs acquisition, acquisition of a Nuclear Weapon, not only would present a threat to israel, it would present a threat to our allies and our partners and in the United States. And it would trigger an arms race, a Nuclear Arms Race in a region and make the world a whole lot less stable. So we have a shared strategic commitment. Let me make clear what that commitment is. It is to prevent iran from acquiring a Nuclear Weapon, period. Period. End of discussion. Period. [applause] prevent, not contain, prevent. [applause] the president flatly stated that and as many of you in this room have heard me say and always kids me about this and well be in the security room, and i know that debey Wasserman Schultz hears it, he says, and hell turn to other people and say, as joe would say, big nations cant bluff. Well, big nations cant bluff. And president s of the United States cannot and do not bluff. And president obama is not bluffing. He is not bluffing. [applause] we are not looking for war. Were looking to and ready to ready to negotiate peacefully. But all options, including military force is on the table. But i made clear at the Munich Security Conference just last month, our strong preference, the worlds preference is for a diplomatic solution. While that window is closing, we believe there is still time and space to achieve the outcome. We are in constant dialogue, sharing information with the israeli military, the Israeli Intelligence service and israeli political establishment at every level. And were taking all the steps required to get there. But i want to make clear to you something. God forbid the need to act occurs, it is critically important for the whole world to know we did everything in our power, we did everything that reasonably could have been expected to avoid any confrontation. That matters, because god forbid if we have to act, its important that the rest of the world is with us. We have a United International community [applause] we have a United InternationalCommunity Behind these unprecedented sanctions. We have left iran more isolated than ever. When we came to office as you remember, not because of the last administration, just a reality, iran was on the up in the region. It is no longer on the up. The pressure is not to punish, it is to convince iran to make good on its International Obligations. Put simply, we are sharpening the choice that the iranian leadership has to make. They can meet their obligations and give the International Community iron clad confidence in the peaceful nature of their program or continue down the path theyre run to further isolate and mounting pressure of the world. But even preventing iran from acquiring a Nuclear Weapon still leaves them a dangerous neighbor, particularly to israel. They are using terrorist proxies to spread violence in the region and beyond the region putting israelis, americans, citizens of every continent in danger. For too long, hezbollah has tried to pose as nothing more than a political and social Welfare Group while plotting against interests in eastern europe, from european europe to southeast africa and south america. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Period. [applause] and we and me, we are urging every nation in the world that we deal with and we deal with them all, the start treaty, as hezbollah, as such, naming them a terrorist organization. [applause] this isnt just about a threat to israel and the United States, but a Global Terrorist Organization that has targeted several people on several continents. Well say and do our part to stop them. And we ask, we ask the world to do the same. Thats why we have been talking to our friends in europe to declare hezbollah a terrorist organization. This past month, i made the case to the european leading european heads of state as president obama and israelis know we have to counter hezbollah where it sows the seeds of hatred. The United States and israel have a shared interest in syria as well. Assad has shown his fathers disregard for human life and dignity, engaging in brutal murder of his own citizens. Our position on that tragedy cannot be clearer. Assad must go. But, we are not signing up for one mud rouse gang replacing another in damascus. [applause] thats why our focus is on supporting the legitimate opposition not only committed to a peaceful syria and a peaceful region. We are carefully vetting those to whom we provide assistance. Thats why why putting relentless pressure, we have also designated the front as a terrorist organization. And because we recognize the great danger of assads chemical and biological weapons, we have set a clear red line against the use of the transfer of those weapons. And we will Work Together to prevent this conflict and these horrific weapons from threatening israels security. And while we try to ensure the end of the dake tatorship in syria, we will support a genuine trns is into democracy. We have no illusions. We know how difficult this will be. And how difficult it is. Theres been obviously a dramatic change in egypt. A lot of us has given us hope and pause and fears in other quarters. Its not about us. But a profoundly affects us. We need to be invested in each of the stable success of the region. We arent looking at whats happening in egypt through rosecolored glasses. Our eyes are wide open. We have no illusions about the challenges that we have face, but we also know this. Theres no legitimate alternative at this point to engagement. Only through engagement, egypt, with interest egypt that we can focus its leaders, respect the obligations including its peace treaty with israel. Only through active engagement we can make sure that hamas does not rearm through the sinai and put the people at risk. Only through engagement we can concentrate egypts government on the imperative of confronting the extremists. And only through engagement we can encourage egypts leaders to make reforms that will spark Economic Growth and stabilize the democratic process. And its all tough. And theres no certainty. Theres no certainty about anything in the arab spring. I expect president obama to cover each of these issues in much greater detail. I learned one thing as i was telling the president , i learned its never a good idea to steal the president s thunder. Its never a good idea to say what hes going to say the next day. Im not going to go into any further detail on this, but much greater detail, he will discuss when he goes to israel later this month just before passover begins. I have to admit, im a little jealous he gets to be the one to say this year in jerusalem. But im the Vice President , im not the president. When i told him that, he didnt know whether i was serious or not. But any way [laughter] as it comes to know surprise to you, the president and i have not only are partners, we have become friends and he and i have spoken at length about this trip. And i think he is looking forward to have a chance to hear from the people of israel and beyond their political leaders and particularly the Younger Generation of israelis. And i must note, i must note, just as im getting a chance to speak to 2,000 Young American jews involved and committed to the state of israel in relationship to the United States, but he is as anxious to do what i got a chance to do. When i was there the last time, i got to go to the university to speak to several thousand young israelis. The vie bransy. The optimism, the commitment is contagious and looking forward to seeing it, feeling it and tasting it. The president is looking forward to having conversations about their hopes and aspirations, about their astonishing, worldleading technological achievements, about the future they envision for themselves and their country and how different the world they face is different from the one their parents faced even if the threats are the same. These are really important conversations for the president to have and to hear and for them to hear. These are critically important. I get kidded again, to quote debey and she kids me sometimes, everyone quotes democrats and republicans, tip saying, all politics is local, with all due respect, i think thats not right. I think all politics is personal, and i mean it. All politics is personal. And building personal relationships and trusts and exposure, talking to people that really matters, particularly in foreign policy. Ladies and gentlemen, let me end where i began, by reaffirming our commitment to the state israel. Not only a longstanding moral commitment but a strategic commitment. An independent israel, secured in its own borders recognized by the world is a practical and strategic interest of the United States of america. If there were no israel, we would have to invent one. Ladies and gentlemen, we also know that its critical to remind every generation of americans as youre doing with your children here today, its critical to remind our children, my children, your children, thats why the first time i ever took the three of my children separately to europe, the first place we went to dakau. Its important. That all our children and grandchildren understand this is a neverending requirement. The preservation of an independent jewish state is the ultimate guarantor and only certain guarantor of freedom and security for the jewish people in the world. That was pointed out to me [applause] that was pointed out to me when i was a young senator making my first trip to israel. I had the great, great honor of getting to meet for the first time and subsequently i met her beyond that, golda, the Prime Minister. Someone said, you cant be that old, senator. [laughter] but seriously, the first trip i ever made. You know the double doors going into the office and the blond furniture and the desk on the left side if my memory serves me correctly. And golda as the Prime Minister and defense minister, she had those maps behind her, you could pull down those maps like you had in geography class in high school and she sat behind her desk and i sat in the chair in front of her desk and a young man was sitting to my my right. And she sat there chained smoking and reading letters, reading letters to me, letters from the front of the sixday war. And told me how this young man and woman had died in this family and this went on for i dont know for how long and she could tell i was advicebly moved by this. And i was getting depressed about it, oh my god and she suddenly looked at me and said, i give my word and she looked at me and said senator, would you like a photo opportunity . [laughter] i looked at her and i said, yes, madam Prime Minister. And we walked out those doors and stood there, no statements and we are standing next to one another, looking at this array of media, television and photo journalists, take snapping pictures and we are looking straight ahead. Without looking at me, she speaks to me and said, senator, dont look so sad. We have a secret weapon. We have a secret weapon. In our confrontation in this part of the world. And i thought shes about to lean over and tell me about a new system or something. And i you can see the pictures, i still have them i turned to look at her and we were supposed to be looking straight ahead and i said she never turned her head, she said our secret weapon, senator, is we have no place else to go. We have no place else to go. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, our job is to make sure theres always a place to go. That theres always an israel, and that there is always a secure israel and that an israel that can care for itself. My father is right, you are right, its the ultimate guarantor of never again. God bless you all and may god protect our troops. Thank you [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] coming up in 35 minutes, we will take you live to the white house. President obama will sign the violence against women act. It was passed by the house last week. Well have live coverage when the ceremony gets under way. Back on capitol hill, a joint hearing between the Senate HomelandSecurity Committee and the Senate Homeland security and commerce committee. They will hear from secretary Janet Napolitano at 2 30 eastern. The white house spokesman said the United States is capable of defending against the north korea missile attack. And heres a look as they gaveled in this morning at the u. N. Today the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2094, strongly condemning north koreas highly february 12 nuclear test and imposing significant new sanctions under chapter 7 of the u. N. Charter. The strength, breadth and severity of these sanctions will raise the cost to north korea of its Illicit Nuclear program and further constrain its ability to finance and source materials and technology for its Ballistic Missile, conventional and Nuclear Weapons program. First, resolution 2094 imposes tough new financial sanctions. When north korea tries to move money to pay for its nuclear and Ballistic Missile programs, countries must now block those transfers even if the money is being carried in suitcases full of vault cash. Likewise northern banks will find it much harder to launder money for the Nuclear Program. Todays resolution also imposes new travel restrictions. If, for example, a north korean agent is caught making arms deals or selling nuclear technology, countries will be required to expel that agent. Countries must also now prevent the travel of people working for designated Companies Involved in the nuclear and missile programs. States will now have new authority to inspect cargo and stop north korean arms smuggling and proliferation. If a country has cargo on its territory that might be carrying prohibittive items like nuclear or ballistic materials, this resolution requires that the cargo be inspected. It will also make it harder for north korean vessels to offload such prohibited cargo if a ship refuses inspection on the high seas. Thus forcing it to return to its port of origin. And airplanes carrying smuggled items can find themselves grounded. This resolution will also counter north korean efforts to abuse diplomatic privileges to advance its nuclear and Ballistic Missile activities. It will now be much harder for such diplomats to procure technology or divert funds to the Nuclear Program without being detected and expeled. Resolution 2094 further bans the transfer to and from north korea of specific Ballistic Missile, nuclear and chemical weaponsrelated technology. It lists new prohibitive prohibited items and calls on states to block any item at all that could contribute to these activities. It names additional North Koreans and north Korean Companies whose assets will be frozen and those individuals will also be subject to a travel ban. This resolution lists a number of luxury goods that cannot be sold to north korea. As a result, north koreas ruling elite who have been living large while impoverisheding their people will pay a direct test. This can be found on the u. N. Mission web site www. Usun. State. Gov. These sanctions will bite and bite hard. They increase north koreas isolation and raise the cost to north koreas leaders of defining the International Community. The entire world stands united in our commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and in our demand that north korea complies with its International Obl