House Majority Leader Eric Cantor addresssed an audience of over 10,000 at the 2011 AIPAC Policy conference in Washsington DC. Photo: Maxine Dovere.

Eric Cantor began his remarks to a most receptive audience with a classic recount of his own great American story, noting that he had far surpassed his immigrant grandmother dreams, with his election as majority leader of the United States House of Representatives.

At few political events has The Algemeiner witnessed the level of enthusiasm with which Congressional Minority Leader Eric Cantor was received before, during, and after his remarks at the 2011 AIPAC Conference.  Cantor, who traces his “Israel awareness” from the days of the Yom Kippur war, stresses the importance of the US-Israel strategic ties, but believes virtually more important the binding is one that exists “on a gut level” a phenomena he has observed “when members of Congress stand in Israel’s Galilee, visit the Stations of the Cross, or visit Yad V’Shem.”  As the biblical names come alive, Americans have an emotional and profound experience. Emphasizing the shared values of Americans and Israelis, Cantor said “America must do everything in her power to keep Israel strong and secure.”

Responding to comments made earlier by President Barak Obama, Majority Leader Eric Cantor was greeted with a standing ovation when he declared “It’s not about the ’67 line.” His statement brought the AIPAC audience to its feet for one of the series of “standing ovations” received by the congressman.  Cantor wasted few words in politically correct discourse, saying that “until Israel’s enemies come to terms with the reality that the people of Israel live and what they want is to live in peace, there will be no peace.”

Cantor set some preconditions for historical “participation” by the Palestinian Authority, calling on it to “stop inciting and come to the negotiating table…history will embrace you. Until that day, there can be no peace with Hamas. Peace at any price is not peace it its surrender!” proclaimed the lawmaker, to yet another standing round of applause.

The Congressman keeps his references clearly based in American history.  The “tradition of Zionism has its roots in America’s founding,” he says.  “The colonists saw themselves as the new Israel.”  Cantor, who holds the seat once occupied by James Madison, noted that the founding legislator spent a year learning Hebrew at Princeton University.  “We” he said, “must rise to the challenge before us and shape history. Israel deserves America’s friendship in reality not just in rhetoric… Only deed counts…for the survival of Israel, the security of America and peace for the world.”  With his audience again on its feet, he declared “Now is the time.  Here is the place to begin!”