McCain: Relations with Israel ‘Have Never Been Worse’

BASH: "What about the relationship between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the president which is widely to be known as not great?"

MCCAIN: "It's poor as we know and it's the worst that I've ever seen in my lifetime and that in itself is a tragedy because it's the only functioning democracy in the entire Middle East."

BASH: "Why do you think it's the worst that you've seen in your lifetime?"

MCCAIN: "I think because the president had very unrealistic expectations about the degree of cooperation that he would get from Israel particularly on the Palestinian issue, as well as the nuclear issues with Iran. I am not putting the entire blame on the president of the United States but I will say this. No other president has had such a difficult relationship with the State of Israel since it became a country."

BASH: "Bush 41 didn't have the greatest relations at the time."

MCCAIN: "He didn't, but at the same time it never reached this level. I agree with you about Bush 41. I remember when Jim Baker testified before the Congress, 'If they want to call me my number is 202 ...' --I remember that. Look, relations with Israel have not always been excellent but I think any observer would argue they never been worst."