In an exclusive interview with the Washington-based correspondent of Israel TV's Channel 2 News, Nahum Barnea, Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain declared his familiarity with the critical issues facing Israel and the Middle East. In a "post-game" write-up of his interview with McCain, broadcast in Israel on Monday, Barnea agreed: "I met a serious individual who knows the material."
Asked how Israel would fare during a McCain administration, the Arizona senator chose to present his credentials 
The Arizona senator chose to present his credentials as someone familiar with Israel and the region.
as someone familiar with Israel and the region as an indirect answer.
"I have been to Israel many, many, many times. My first visit was with Senator 'Scoop' Jackson years ago. I have visited the area," McCain said. "I know the Middle East. I know the issues and the challenges. And I know that these are very difficult times for the State of Israel and I understand, I think, some of the things we have to do in partnership to preserve not only the existence of the State of Israel, but the advancement of peace and security in the region."
Sanctions on Iran, But No Talks - Yet
Asked by Barnea if he would talk to the Iranian regime as president, McCain said, "I think it's very possible to have talks and communications at different levels. What I object to would be a face-to-face, without-preconditions meeting with [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, who would probably at the meeting - which would have worldwide coverage - announce his country's dedication to the extinction of the State of Israel. He said it in New York at the UN."
Barnea didn't ask McCain about his preconditions for agreeing to meet with Ahmadinejad. However, during a June 2, 2008, Town Hall Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, McCain detailed some of those preconditions:
"I'll sit down across the table from him when he renounces his nation's dedication to the destruction of the State of Israel. I'll sit down with him when he renounces his country's program to develop nuclear weapons." And referring to Iran's involvement in the Iraqi insurgency, McCain added, "And perhaps most important to us... I'll never sit down until that person renounces his dedication to the death of brave young Americans who are serving our nation in Iraq."
Asked about the possibility that Israel would take military action against Iran on its own, McCain replied:
"Well I hope that that would never happen. I hope that Israel would not feel that threatened. That's why I think that we, Americans, joining with our European allies can impose significant and very impactful sanctions on Iran, which I think could modify their behavior. They've got a lousy economy because they've got a lousy government. So, I would hope that we could succeed in that direction and I have some optimism we can. But I have to look you in the eye and tell you that the United States of America can never allow a second Holocaust."
Pressed regarding using the military to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Senator McCain said, "All I can tell you is that I think we have a lot of options to explore before we seriously explore the military option, and I don't think we have exercised those enough."
Sympathy, But No Advice on Gilad Shalit
Referring to John McCain's background as a POW, held captive for years during the Vietnam War, Barnea asked what he thinks Israel should do to obtain freedom for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
"I can't tell the Israeli government how to handle that situation," McCain said. "I have a great sense of sympathy for the family, the families of those whose bodies were just returned, who I met with in Israel. I can't tell... I cannot. I think that's an issue that's got to be decided how to be handled by the Israeli government and the people."
Cpl. Shalit has been held captive for more than two years by the Hamas regime in the Gaza 
"I think we have a lot of options to explore before we seriously explore the military option." -- McCain on Iran
half of the Palestinian Authority. Negotiations are underway for his release, but Hamas is seeking the release of hundreds of terrorist prisoners in Israeli jails.
Seeking Popularity in Israel
While it was highly unusual for an American presidential candidate to grant an interview to a foreign outlet, McCain chose to do so specifically on the eve of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama's arrival in Israel as part of a tour of the region.
In an article reflecting on his interview with Senator McCain and the nearly parallel visit of his Democratic rival to Israel, Nahum Barnea wrote, "My feeling is that this proves the great interest both candidates have in Israel, and their calculation that their popularity in Israel influences the decision of the important Jewish community in the United States.
"And that is how it is that one of the candidates, Barack Obama, is arriving in Israel in person and the other, John McCain, who was in Israel several months ago, chooses to be interviewed."