Need to take US-Israel relationship ‘to next level’ — Clinton

She adds that enemies “do use Islam” as justification for slaughtering innocent people.

“We will always defend our friends and allies,” she says, including “ally and true friend Israel, now and forever.

“Israel is no stranger to terrorism,” Clinton adds.

The presidential hopeful says she visited Israeli terror victims in hospitals.

She also notes the IS-affiliate in Sinai, and its reported ties to Gaza.

Clinton condemns the “brutal” stabbings, car-rammings and shootings in Israel.

“Israeli children have been killed, as have Palestinian children,” she says, noting the killing of US citizen Ezra Schwartz by name.

“Palestinian leaders should condemn” violence and incitement, she says.

It is also in the US interest to have a strong Israel, Clinton adds. “Israel is strong enough to deter its enemies and strong enough” to take steps toward peace, she continues. “We need a light unto the nations, and darkness threatens.”

Clinton says we must take “an already strong relationship [between Israel and US] to the next level,” and keep it “always above partisan politics.”