Senator John McCain speaks on CBS' "Face the
Senator John McCain speaks on CBS' "Face theReuters

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggested on Sunday that President Obama should send former President Bill Clinton to lead cease-fire talks between Israel and Gaza-based terrorists.

"We need a person of enormous prestige and influence to have these parties sit down together as an honest broker," McCain said on CBS's “Face the Nation”.

"It's very important to recognize that the United States of America has got to push as hard as we can to resolve this Israeli-Palestinian issue, and so many events hinge on making that process go forward," the senator added.

He then joked that Clinton would abhor him for recommending his name for the laborious task.

McCain questioned how much influence the Obama administration has over the Israeli government, saying the president made a mistake by insisting that Israel agree to cease the expansion of Jewish communities over the green line in 2009.

McCain also praised Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system -- a program largely funded by the U.S. government -- calling it a "worthwhile U.S. investment."

McCain said that without the defense system to intercept rockets, Israel would have already invaded Gaza with ground troops, as would be necessary to defend its borders and civilians against incoming terrorist rocket attacks.

The missile defense system, which has received an estimated $300 million aid from the U.S., has intercepted hundreds of rockets since the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense, which began seven days ago.