Clinton swears in Shapiro as new US Ambassador to Israel

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sworn in Dan Shapiro as new US Ambassador to Israel and affirmed that the bonds between the countries are "enduring and unshakeable". "The friendship between the United States and Israel runs deep. It is rooted in shared values that are at the core of our respective national identities", said Clinton at the swearing-in-ceremony. "The bonds we have formed are enduring and unshakable. So for more than six decades, through Democratic and Republican administrations alike, the United States has remained committed to Israel's security and success. And from his first days in office, President Obama has upheld and strengthened that commitment", she added. Shapiro will head to the region to replace Ambassador James Cunningham, who has been serving in Tel Aviv since August 2008, soon after the swearing-in-ceremony attended by Ambassadors to the United States from Israel, Turkey, Morocco, and the PLO Chief Representative. Clinton noted that under President Barack Obama's leadership "we continue to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge, we have increased security assistance, joint exercises and high-level consultations, and we have supplied new missile defense systems that are saving Israeli lives". "Because we are convinced that Israel's future depends upon achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, we have consistently worked to support negotiations between the parties. And as President Obama said in May, while the core issues of the conflict must be negotiated, the basis of those negotiations is clear - a secure Israel and a viable Palestine", she added. Shapiro served for two years and a half as White House senior director for Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council. Clinton affirmed that Obama by "sending one of his closest advisors to be our new ambassador, President Obama is once again demonstrating not only our national commitment, but his personal commitment to the strength of this relationship to Israel's future, its security, and its success".