--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes to Israel's security, our…" description: "\"When it comes to Israel's security, our military and intelligence cooperation, that's off limits. That's protected. That's sacrosanct.\" — Ben Rhodes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg" --- # When it comes to Israel's security, our military and… ![“When it comes to Israel's security, our military and intelligence cooperation, that's off limits. That's protected. That's sacrosanct.” quote by Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg) > “When it comes to Israel's security, our military and intelligence cooperation, that's off limits. That's protected. That's sacrosanct.” [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Security cooperation with Israel is deemed untouchable and beyond public debate. **In simple terms:** Israel security ties are off limits. Key Takeaway Respect confidentiality of strategic alliances. Themes politics security alliances Mood cautious serious Type political policy When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - policy making - media reporting Key Concepts sovereignty strategic secrecy Questions to Reflect On - How should democratic oversight address secret agreements? - What are the risks of undisclosed security pacts? A Different Perspective Limits on transparency can hinder accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comes Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-israel-931124/) [Cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-cooperation-931122/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Israel Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel-security-575968/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Protected Sacrosanct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected-sacrosanct-931123/) [Security Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security-military-931125/) ## Related quotes > [We're going to make sure, regardless of disagreements we have on policy, that our military and intelligence cooperation to keep the Israeli people safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-going-to-make-sure-regardless-of-disagreements-we-have-on/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [But if our nation goes over a financial Niagara, we won't have much strength and, eventually, we won't have peace. We are currently borrowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/but-if-our-nation-goes-over-a-financial-niagara-we-won-t-have-much/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [National security - the military is the first thing we should spend money on. You have to fully fund that first. And then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/national-security-the-military-is-the-first-thing-we-should-spend/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [Israel's security doctrine is not that Israel must invade every place from which a threat to Israel emanates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzipi-livni/israel-s-security-doctrine-is-not-that-israel-must-invade-every-place/) [Tzipi Livni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzipi-livni/) > [Israel's security is not negotiable for us; that is absolutely clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/israel-s-security-is-not-negotiable-for-us-that-is-absolutely-clear/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [As for Israel, our friendship is rooted deeply in a shared history and shared values. Our commitment to Israel's security is unshakeable. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-for-israel-our-friendship-is-rooted-deeply-in-a-shared-history-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Those who threaten Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on the frontlines, and I will bring to the White House an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/those-who-threaten-israel-threaten-us-israel-has-always-faced-these/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I have found myself under a wave of investigation and criticism from the moment I was elected. Since my first days in the Prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/i-have-found-myself-under-a-wave-of-investigation-and-criticism-from/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [We're close friends - the American people, the Israeli people, our governments. There's absolutely no daylight - none - between us and the Israelis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-re-close-friends-the-american-people-the-israeli-people-our/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Strengthening our critical strategic alliance with Israel is in U.S. security interests and the absolute right thing to do for our closest friend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-hyde-smith/strengthening-our-critical-strategic-alliance-with-israel-is-in-u-s/) [Cindy Hyde-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-hyde-smith/) > [Israel's security is my life's goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/israel-s-security-is-my-life-s-goal/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [There will be no recognition of Israel and there will be no security for the occupation and colonization forces. Resistance will remain our strategic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-mashal/there-will-be-no-recognition-of-israel-and-there-will-be-no-security/) [Khaled Mashal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-mashal/) > [I want you and the people of Israel to know a few things that have not and will not change. The United States stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/i-want-you-and-the-people-of-israel-to-know-a-few-things-that-have/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [I think Israel's security measures are pretty strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beruff/i-think-israel-s-security-measures-are-pretty-strong/) [Carlos Beruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beruff/) > [I think the US has the right to have its own national security policy. I think most Americans would agree with that. And therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-the-us-has-the-right-to-have-its-own-national-security-policy/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) ## More by Ben Rhodes > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Following one of the most violent conflicts in human history, the United States and Japan built a deep and abiding friendship - an alliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/following-one-of-the-most-violent-conflicts-in-human-history-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Our Cuba policy was a major obstacle to getting things done in the hemisphere and a source of tension around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/our-cuba-policy-was-a-major-obstacle-to-getting-things-done-in-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I found people I really wanted to work for; I made myself available to do whatever I could with the skills I had; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/i-found-people-i-really-wanted-to-work-for-i-made-myself-available-to/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Irrespective of our foreign policies, for decades, other nations and peoples could see, in the United States, a strong democracy that could maintain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/irrespective-of-our-foreign-policies-for-decades-other-nations-and/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > ['Make America great again,' is not that different from Putin's nostalgia for the Soviet Union or tsarist Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/make-america-great-again-is-not-that-different-from-putin-s-nostalgia/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [The Benghazi attack was one of the more confusing, chaotic days that we had at work because you had these multiple violent protests taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-benghazi-attack-was-one-of-the-more-confusing-chaotic-days-that/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Our basic assessment was that if America keeps going down these rabbit holes in the Middle East, we're just going to put ourselves out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/our-basic-assessment-was-that-if-america-keeps-going-down-these/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [To be sure, the United States will be eternally proud of our civilian leaders and the men and women of our armed forces who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/to-be-sure-the-united-states-will-be-eternally-proud-of-our-civilian/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Since taking office, President Obama has pursued a policy that focused more American resources and engagement in the Asia-Pacific, a region that will increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/since-taking-office-president-obama-has-pursued-a-policy-that-focused/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [The fact that there were discreet channels of communication established with Iran in 2012 is something that we confirmed publicly. However, we did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-fact-that-there-were-discreet-channels-of-communication/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Downturns in migration almost always prove temporary, as people adjust to changes in American enforcement. What doesn't change is the basic human impulse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/downturns-in-migration-almost-always-prove-temporary-as-people-adjust/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [When I think of the things that Trump has done, ironically, everything is sort of - we care so much about Cuba and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-i-think-of-the-things-that-trump-has-done-ironically-everything/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I think one of the critiques of me is that I thought I knew it all. But I was learning from the enormous resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/i-think-one-of-the-critiques-of-me-is-that-i-thought-i-knew-it-all/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Explore all 94 Ben Rhodes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## More Cooperation quotes > [I wish I had played team sports. I think every kid should. Teamwork builds character - teaches people about leadership and cooperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-rocca/i-wish-i-had-played-team-sports-i-think-every-kid-should-teamwork/) [Mo Rocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-rocca/) > [The U.S.-China relationship, of course, has elements of both cooperation and competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-donilon/the-u-s-china-relationship-of-course-has-elements-of-both-cooperation/) [Thomas E. Donilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-donilon/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [We have to deal with where we are. We have to create cooperatives, we have to create intentional communities, we have to work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-deal-with-where-we-are-we-have-to-create-cooperatives-we/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [We must never lose sight of the fact that we must take part in the development, not only of ourselves but of all humanity...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/we-must-never-lose-sight-of-the-fact-that-we-must-take-part-in-the/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-means-in-the-last-analysis-the-substitution-of-thought-for/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Women lead in ways different from men's. Men, I think, have been programmed to give orders. Women have been programmed to motivate people, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-fox/women-lead-in-ways-different-from-men-s-men-i-think-have-been/) [Muriel Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-fox/) > [I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/i-sometimes-try-to-imagine-what-would-have-happened-if-we-d-known-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [In spite of my great admiration for individual splendid talents I do not accept the star system. Collective creative effort is the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/in-spite-of-my-great-admiration-for-individual-splendid-talents-i-do/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [The peace we seek, founded upon decent trust and cooperation among nations, can be fortified not by weapons of war but by wheat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-peace-we-seek-founded-upon-decent-trust-and-cooperation-among/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The main achievement of economics is that it has provided a theory of peaceful human cooperation. This is why the harbingers of violent conflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-main-achievement-of-economics-is-that-it-has-provided-a-theory-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The war in Iraq is a rare opportunity to move toward an historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times a new world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-war-in-iraq-is-a-rare-opportunity-to-move-toward-an-historic/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We also exchange oil for software technology. Uruguay is one of the biggest producers of software. We are breaking with the neoliberal model. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/we-also-exchange-oil-for-software-technology-uruguay-is-one-of-the/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [It is true that the virtues which are less esteemed and practiced now--independence, self-reliance, and the willingness to bear risks, the readiness to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/it-is-true-that-the-virtues-which-are-less-esteemed-and-practiced-now/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) [Browse all 942 Cooperation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When it comes to Israel's security, our military and intelligence cooperation, that's off limits. That's protected. That's sacrosanct.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Rhodes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-military-and-intelligence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cooperation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-military-and-intelligence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a0/ben-rhodes-7180_cooperation_when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-m_2487543.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When it comes to Israel's security, our military and intelligence cooperation, that's off limits. That's…” — Ben Rhodes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ben Rhodes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When it comes to Israel's security,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-military-and-intelligence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-it-comes-to-israel-s-security-our-military-and-intelligence/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```