Marco Rubio at Florida synagogue says Israel ‘will not have a better friend than me’

Julie Wiener

Marco Rubio speaking at a press conference about Israel at a synagogue in West Palm Beach, Florida, March 11, 2106. (Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images)

Marco Rubio speaking at a press conference about Israel at a synagogue in West Palm Beach, Florida, March 11, 2106. (Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images)

(JTA) — Speaking at a Florida synagogue, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio promised that if he were elected president, “Israel will not have a better friend than me.”

“We are going to take a side and we are going to be on Israel’s” side, the Florida senator said, according to USA Today. “I think Israel is willing to be incredibly accommodating and have proven their willingness to do so. The Palestinian Authority has never shown any willingness, in fact they have turned down some very generous offers in the past.”

At the press conference at Temple Beth El, the Florida senator and Republican presidential candidate repeated criticisms of Donald Trump he made during the Thursday night GOP debate.

“We are electing the next commander-in-chief and when the one leading in the polls will not take sides, imagine if he were president?” Rubio said, referring to rival Donald Trump’s pledge to be “neutral” on Israel-Palestinian, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.

The press conference at the Conservative Jewish congregation followed a private meeting with local rabbis.

Rubio told the press that he is the only candidate who can stop Trump from winning the upcoming GOP primary in Florida.

Soon thereafter, Rubio’s campaign spokesman urged his supporters in Ohio to vote for his rival, the state’s Gov. John Kasich, in an effort to stop Trump, who is the front-runner for the GOP presidential nod.

“A vote for John Kasich or [Republican Texas senator and presidential candidate] Ted Cruz in Florida is a vote for Donald Trump,” Alex Conant said.

Regarding Ohio and Kasich, Conant said, “If you want to stop Trump in Ohio, Kasich’s the only guy who can beat him there.”

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