Boehner: U.S. must remain 'reliable ally' of Israel

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called for the U.S. to remain a "strong partner and reliable ally" of Israel in a speech Sunday.

Boehner spoke to the Jewish National Fund conference in Cincinnati, Ohio reports the Associated Press.

The speaker said the U.S. should support the "one true beacon of freedom and opportunity" in the Middle East.

Boehner's remarks come ahead of the United Nations General Assembly session this week in New York.

President Obama will address the UN Tuesday. The session is expected to be dominated by questions about Palestinian statehood as Mahmoud Abbas proceeds with a request for the UN to grant Palestinians sovereign state status.

The White House has threatened to veto any such measure which could harm U.S. relations with Arab states.

The Obama administration is also facing questions about a possible drop in Jewish support after the loss of former Rep. Anthony Weiner's (D) seat in a New York special election last week.

Former President Bill Clinton (D) suggested that voters' fears for Israel's security led to the Democratic defeat in an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday morning.

"I think, Mayor Koch had a big impact on that election because of the controversy surrounding Israel and how they're reacting to the proposal of the Palestinians to get the U.N. to recognize them as a state. I think that had a lot to do with it," said Clinton.

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