Among the thousands who rallied in support of Israel in front of the United Nations building Monday was 2008 presidential hopeful, Senator Hillary Clinton.

She said all Americans were standing behind Israel at this time, and applauded the Bush administration's support of the Jewish state in the current crisis.

'I want us here in New York to imagine if extremist terrorists were launching rocket attacks across the Mexican or Canadian border, would we stand by or would we defend America against these attacks from extremists?' she asked. 'We will stand with Israel because Israel is standing up for American values as well as Israeli ones.'

Clinton was one of a number of politicians, state and federal, Democrat and Republican, that addressed the crowd.

In a statement issued late last week, Senator Clinton was equally solid in her support of Israel.

'The unprovoked attacks on innocent Israelis and the killing and abduction of Israeli soldiers by the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah are dramatic escalations of violence against Israel,' she said.

'The United States must stand by Israel as she defends herself. No government can stand idly by when its citizens and soldiers are attacked and abducted and when terrorist groups make incursions into its territory.'

'These events demonstrate that Hamas's ascent to power in the Palestinian Authority, and Hezbollah's participation in the Lebanese government, are dangerous for the stability, not only of Israel, but of the entire region,' she added. 'Hamas and Hezbollah must return the Israeli soldiers they abducted and cease their attacks against Israel.'

'Israel's right to exist, and exist in safety, must never be put in question We must also continue to send a very clear message to Syria, Iran and others to join in condemning these attacks and to exercise their influence over Hamas and Hezbollah,' Clinton said.

Israel's UN Ambassador, Dan Gillerman, tackled the issue of whether or not his country was using disproportionate force in the conflict while slighting the United Nations. In opening remarks at the rally he roared, 'From this stage, I would like to send out a clear message to that glass building behind you. Let us finish the job! You know better than anyone else that what we are doing is doing your own work: fighting terror. And to those countries who claim we are using disproportionate force, I have only this to say: you're damn right we are!'