Topic
The main theme that US President Barack Obama focuses on in his remarks to the people of Israel is the relationship between the US and Israel. He does this by looking at the history of alliance and collaboration between the two nations, but also by looking at the importance of a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian confl…
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US-Israel alliance and collaboration
The parts of the speech that are related to the US-Israel alliance and collaboration focus on the common points between the two nations. Obama states that the US has always relied on the concept of freedom, which is something that the people of Israel also want and represent: “It is a story about fi…
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The two-state solution
Other parts of Obama’s speech are related to the importance of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine: “Negotiations will be necessary, but there is little secret about where they must lead – two states for two peoples.” (ll. 366-367)
He mainly focuses on the areas of security, peace, and prosperity, and he presents the measures that should be taken to …
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Argumentation
Barack Obama mostly relies on direct argumentation in his speech. One example is the way he directly states the reasons why the US invested in the Iron Dome system:
That's why we've invested in the Iron Dome system to save countless lives – because those children deserve to sleep better at night. That's why we have made it clear, time and again, that Israel cannot accept rocket attacks from Gaza, and have stood up for Israel's right to defend itself. (ll. 163-168)
Obama also relies on direct argumentation when he talks about the terrorist organization Hizbollah. He is very clear when he states the reasons w…
