Israel has come under fire recently by the Obama Administration for announcing the construction of thousands of new Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to one day hold as the capital of a future independent Palestine.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other prominent figures in the Obama administration were quick to reaffirm the close relations between Israel and the United States despite this controversial development, but tensions have remained high.

The U.S. has supported Israel as a beacon of Western ideals in the Middle East ever since its creation in the wake of World War II.

This is how it should be. The Israeli government, like any government, is flawed and, at times, regretfully ruthless; but it is so out of necessity, not corruption and hawkishness.

When discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one must understand the nature of such a deep-seated relationship. In many ways it mirrors our own War on Terror, as Palestine has no army with which to fight, but instead has terrorist groups that utilize everything from launching rockets to child suicide bombers.

Israeli settlement has been perhaps the defining issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years, and President Obama is increasingly considered by Israelites to be pro-Palestinian as a result of his stance on the matter.

No country in recent history has been criticized for such a fundamentally economic necessity as building new homes.

When discussing foreign policy in terms of Israel, one must understand that supporting Israel and disregarding Palestine is not mutually inclusive. Israel has had a long and bitter history in the Middle East, and frequently violent altercations have left the country hardened.

The Obama administration is right to say that Israel and the U.S. have a very unique, close relationship with one hand, but is wrong to belittle it with the other.

From the beginning, the U.S. has backed the tiny Middle Eastern nation with funds, resources and weapons. This fact has served as a consistently tangible effort to increase security in the region without risking Israel’s sovereignty.

The difference between Israel and the U.S. is that Israel has the enemy – these terrorists – quite literally in their backyard. Just since September of 2000, more than 1000 people have died as a result of Palestinian violence.

And what is Israel’s sin in the latest international drama? Building homes. Israel has been faulted by the Obama administration for building homes.

How can we not support Israel? Israel has been labeled harsh for its dealings with Palestine, but in light of years of devastating violence and hatred, it has become imperative to the country’s survival. The U.S. cannot in clear conscience refuse to support Israel, even when it’s difficult.