now on a country s treatment of gays and lesbians will factor into decisions about foreign aid. it is the first u.s. government strategy to deal with international human rights abuses against homosexuals. here in israel there is increasing concern about what is happening in iran. and of course the growing threats perceived here and described by the u.n. s international a tomorrowic energy agency about iran s suspected nuclear programs. joining me now in israel, ronan berg mann who has been studying all this, respected journalist and author on iran and the issue and joining us from washington, from the brookings institution who has been studying israeli public opinion about what to do about iran. first to you, ronan, there have been some suspicious to say the least explosions in iran, the assassination, of a prominent iranian nuclear scientist, the most recent missile explosion. suspicions that this is covert activity similar to the computer
military action against iran. i would love to make it clear. having an agreement between israel and the palestinians based on two states for two peoples is in the israeli interest. therefore i believe that we need to go back to the damn table. it is our interest. it s not a favor to the palestinians nor to the arab world and not even to any president of the united states. so we need to do it, anyway. because the only way to preserve the values of the state of israel as a jewish democratic state, having these values living in harmony and not in contradictions is to end the conflict with the palestinians in accordance with two states with two peoples. and this is the only way to do it. the sooner the better. so i believe that this doesn t serve the interests of israel nor of the united states. what do you say to the republican candidates who are now accusing president obama in a critical point in this campaign going into this election year, they are saying that he is aban d
to go back to the damn table. it is our interest. it s not a favor to the palestinians nor to the arab world and not even to any president of the united states. so we need to do it, anyway. because the only way to preserve the values of the state of israel as a jewish democratic state, having these values living in harmony and not in contradictions is to end the conflict with the palestinians in accordance with two states with two peoples. and this is the only way to do it. the sooner the better. so i believe that this doesn t serve the interests of israel nor of the united states. what do you say to the republican candidates who are now accusing president obama in a critical point in this campaign going into this election year, they are saying that he is aban done israel by making these very points. you know, i m not going to interfere or intervene in the elections in the united states. but i would say to them as i said to every israeli, to any israeli and to every ameri