BREAKING update..:
“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel. We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them. This announcement underscores the need to get negotiations under way that can resolve all the outstanding issues of the conflict. The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians and for Jews, Muslims and Christians. We believe that through good faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem and safeguards its status for people around the world. Unilateral action taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations on permanent status issues. As George Mitchell said in announcing the proximity talks, “we encourage the parties and all concerned to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.” – Vice President Joe Biden
The BBC is reporting Israel has approved the new building of 1600 homes in East Jerusalem, which most of the world considers annexed and occupied territory. It’s illegal to build on occupied territory, though Israel considers this area an exception to that rule. This at the very least puts Vice President Joe Biden in an awkward position, which could easily become an embarrassment if the new building overshadows his visit. The timing is certainly a further challenge to Pres. Obama.
Today in Israel, when Vice President Biden signed Shimon Peres’ guest book, he said that he was there “to confirm the unshakable bond” between the U.S. and Israel. Comparing it to “you’ve always got to keep telling your wife you love her,” according to a report from Chris Matthews this morning on MSNBC. Chris Matthews reporting that Biden said, “the U.S. will do whatever is necessary to make sure that Ahmadinejad will not have a nuclear weapon. The interpretation of Matthews on this very old school, as if to imply that worn out old favorite implication, all options are on the table.
As much as things change, the more they stay the same. With Obama sending Biden to Israel, the Bush era signs of old school Israeli signals shines through. From Stanley Fish:
… Meanwhile, Bush’s policies came to seem less obviously reprehensible as the Obama administration drifted into embracing watered-down versions of many of them. Guantanamo hasn’t been closed. No Child Left Behind is being revised and perhaps improved, but not repealed. The banks are still engaging in their bad practices. Partisanship is worse than ever. Obama seems about to back away from the decision to try 9/11 defendants in civilian courts, a prospect that led the ACLU to run an ad in Sunday’s Times with the subheading “Change or more of the same?” Above that question is a series of photographs that shows Obama morphing into guess who — yes, that’s right, George W. Bush. …
Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell’s statement yesterday came as Vice President Biden landed in the Middle East, today in Jerusalem, with Chris Matthews in tow, Andrew Mitchell and Hillary Clinton nowhere to be found on this big gun trip. Matthews’ interviews with Biden to air today and tomorrow.
American Task Force for Palestine’s Hussein Ibish, according to Laura Rosen, has labeled the indirect talks a bridging mechanism that could yield direct final status negotiations the Obama administration has long sought to get relaunched.
Netanyahu and Biden have a long history and deep relationship, with Biden an old school Israeli hawk, so the cosmetics of his trip couldn’t be more obvious. Obama sent Biden to vouch for his Administration on Israel. It’s a long way from Cairo and drawing the line on settlements, where Pres. Obama began.
UPDATE II: Netanyahu reportedly appeared with Rev. Hagee the eve of Biden’s arrival to Israel.
UPDATE: Biden’s remarks with Shimon Peres can be found here, via the Vice President’s office.
Taylor, I’m glad that President Obama is reaching out to the Israeli people via Joe Biden. Obama has proven all of the GOP bogeymen wrong who tried to scare U.S. voters during the general election in 2008 by insinuating that Obama was not a friend of Israel. In essence, Obama was and has as President, been a true supporter of Israel and a two-state solution, as all true progressives should be, and he understands that in order for Israel to feel comfortable making painful concessions for peace, the U.S. must stand alongside Israel.
Biden’s presence could be a sign of fear about what Bibi might do:
Mullen Wary of Israeli Attack on Iran
By Ray McGovern
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came home with sweaty palms from his mid-February visit to Israel. He has been worrying aloud that Israel will mousetrap the U.S. into war with Iran.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24939.htm
And, just for kicks:
There Has Never Been an Israeli Peace Camp
By Gideon Levy
The Israeli peace camp didn’t die. It was never born in the first place.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24934.htm
That’s always been a concern, Noogan.
Below are Biden’s remarks with Shomon Peres at Expanded Group Meeting, via the veep’s office:
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PRESIDENT PERES: Well, I want to express our profound appreciation for your visit, not just because you are the Vice President of the United States and the most senior person to visit our region at the time; because for us you are a stoic friend, a man with profound judgment. You were the youngest senator in the United States. And from that age, so to speak, you showed friendship, understanding, and judgment, which we appreciate to this day. We think you are coming on a mission of peace. You understand there are two sides to the mission. And I dont see, I think, any contradiction in between being friendly and understanding to the two sides. And since the mission is peace, we are following the same mission.
I want to say that Im not impressed by the perception of the agreement about the proximity talks, because the situation is both more serious and also maybe more promising. If I compare the present situation with the previous situations, I can see three major changes, which I want to mention briefly.
One, the Palestinians started to build a state. Lets not underestimate it. And we learned from early age, from the early beginning felt that better build a state without borders than negotiate borders within every state, so to this very day, in our declaration of independence, there is no borders. I think if the Palestinians started to negotiate about borders and postponing building a state, its a mistake from their side, because the problem with borders here is there was never a Palestinian state — we didnt have a precedent like we had with the Jordanians and with Egypt and so we didnt have borders as we did have with the Jordanians, Egyptians, Lebanese, and Syrians and also because in that case borders have a holy aspect to it, as well. Jerusalem does not trust a territorial border.
So the effect that the United States, the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority — all of them agreed to build a state is an innovation and a very promising process that we have to support and enlarge. And I do not see much difficulties in continuing to do so. I think we have to be, all of us, more generous, more compromising and to supply the Palestinians with the necessary means to build their own home.
If it would — we do just that, they would say we are escaping the negotiations. We are not. So the building of a state is not instead of the negotiations, but in addition to it. The negotiations, its very hard to open it and all of us know there will be — as it is always — a difference between the opening position and the fall-back position. The opening position is tougher and everybody emphasizes the difference. Anyway, I dont know a way — how can you start with the fall-back positions. Even in Hollywood, the happy end is at the end; you dont begin negotiations with the happy end.
So the present declarations on both sides are very careful, and everybody wants to shop as much as he can his own position. And I think we have accepted, as a matter of fact — and I dont think it will save us the difficulties, but lets not see in it the end of the negotiations or the end of the day. Thats the second thing that I believe why its better to have it.
The third change which I see is the Iranian presence. I think the tone and extremacy of Ahmadinejad against Israel is a cover up of his own ambition to create hegemony in the Middle East, since he doesnt want to appear as a Shiite or a Sunnite. He wants to appear as an anti-Israel, which gives him an entry to other countries. And that way, everybody is using Israel as an excuse or a cover up for their real positions. I believe the higher-ups are aware that Iran is a danger to them. More than a thousand years of history in the Middle East — there is thousand years, 900 years the Arabs were under occupation of empires, and Muslims as well. Its only in the last 100 years they have had any independence. And they dont want to give up, rightly so, their independence.
And understand that in the name of religion, Iran is trying to establish a super structure of the Iranians in the Middle East. But at the same time, short of President Mubarak who stood up and some other leaders, theyre reluctant to declare their real position because of the conflict between us and the Palestinians. Everybody uses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a cover up. And I think its a strange situation over the world that the secret relations are better than the open relations, that the relations among the different intelligence organizations are better than the diplomatic one. The reason is diplomacy covers and intelligence discovers, because today to win the fight against the terrorists is not a victory but a discovery. If you discover them ahead of time, you win it.
But I think we — sorry — we have had many problems in the domain of, I think, terrorists. In our own domain, we are very successful and that should serve as an example. And that is the model of our relations or the relations between Jordan and ourselves. No matter what the political mood is, the two countries decided not to permit terrorists to play on. And the Jordanians are the most quiet border — all the time between us and the Jordanians, understanding that today its not a total war, but a war against the terrorists.
I want to make a short remark about Iran as I see it. First of all, the United States should lead the Iranian policy — there is nobody else in the world. The United States, with whatever criticism you may have, you are the most serious, the most organized, and the most analytical approach to the Iranian. And we have trust in President Obama. I dont envy neither you nor him. You have inherited an extremely difficult situation worldwide and otherwise. And its easy to give advice. I know it. Its more difficult to face the trials that are coming from uninvited angles, and participation.
I believe that the best policy vis–vis Iran, and Im speaking of — from our perspective — I cannot suggest to do it in my advice — should comprise three major efforts — one, which is major, and that is the moral code. I think moral sanctions are not less important than economic sanctions. A person like Ahmadinejad that calls openly to destroy the state of Israel cannot be a full member of the United Nations. A man that calls for acts in terror and who hangs people in the streets, not just because of the Israeli conflict — and as Hillary described him as a military dictator. I think he should be placed in his proper definition. He cannot go around almost like a cultural hero.
However, President Obama considers Niebuhr as his philosophical preference. I like to listen to the lectures of Reinhold Niebuhr. The subject was the Judeo-Christian heritage. The first six lectures were about Judeo-Christians. I never heard anything more profound or more moving than that. But he said one word which I believe fits the present situation. He says all of us have to stand up against moral corruption. But moral corruption is more dangerous even than financial corruption. And the first code, in my judgment, is to voice a real struggle against the moral corruption. From an Israeli standpoint, we are totally surprised. They try to de-legitimize us. Were a democratic country. Nobody is being hanged in Israel. We try to make peace. We give back land. We are in a difficult situation, but still on a moral foundation. So he tries to de-legitimize us or you. We are the Satan; he is the Lord. So I think that must be done in a strong and clear voice.
It will also help the people of Iran, the Persians, to continue their struggle to defend their culture. They are ashamed of him. In my judgment, this should be done strongly, clearly, vocally. Then the economic sanctions, which I dont have to advise.
Maybe I would like to see a third point, and that is to surround Iran with an envelope of self-defense — the Palestinians side, as well — against their missiles and nuclear trap. And nobody knows exactly what theyre going to do. But self-defense will be an additional weight in limiting the danger of Iran. Again, only you can do it.
Thats one point. And I want to say about the Palestinians, there is a way to increase the help to the Palestinians to build their state. I know that our government is ready to continue the dismantling of different checkpoints to free the movement. The Palestinians have never had a state in their history, and now theyre beginning to taste what does it mean to build a city or to plan trees or to introduce an economy. On all this, we as the immediate neighbor — you as the guiding the party, and the Europeans, and the Russians, everybody — can participate in helping them to build a state, which I want to say must be affluent. And its not to build another poor state; that would be a mistake. If we are going to build, lets build it a modern state. And I believe that the Palestinians have already leaders. The person that built the city, Bashar Masri, for example, is an extremely intelligent man, up to date — Rawabi is the new city of the Palestinians.
And we have to introduce hi-tech. They cannot make a living just on land. The problem today is not the land, but the level of knowledge. Agriculture went down only to two or three percent. And Israel is an example of making a living out of knowledge, out of hi-tech. We are ready to share. And I believe that they can be providing those of — money. I want to identify immediately. I wont ask from you today money. But I think the Monetary Fund is willing and able to provide serious amounts of money. I spoke with the head of the Monetary Fund. They say that they can support trends; they dont have to support enterprises, contrary to the World Bank. And if the trend is peace, they are ready to invest seriously. In uniting, you have to take them in the picture.
Thats number one. Now, in the negotiations itself, I know the mood. I know that among the Palestinians there is mistrust vis–vis Israel and our government. We are aware of it. What Im asking — and why is that? Because there isnt — if Israel would be against a Palestinian state, would we permit you to build an economy, a police force, institutions? Why are we doing it? And I believe that as things will progress, we can handle the responsibilities for security wherever and whenever they will be ready. For example, if Jenin can police herself, our army will be glad to hand over the security to them. And if there are six or seven cities, lets go.
We suggested, like in the road map to recognize the Palestinian state with provisional borders. But the Palestinians didnt like it, and Mubarak told me leave it alone. They are getting angry with it. Okay. So we dont need lines. We dont need — okay, I shall stop here, because –
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: No, Im anxious — I love hearing you speak. (Laughter.) I really do. Ive told you, Mr. President, you are the most articulate statesman I have ever known. And I have been around for a long, long time. I always — I always enjoy not only your knowledge, but your wisdom. I mean that sincerely. You know I have told you that over the years.
PRESIDENT PERES: I know. I keep it –
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, let me just briefly respond.
PRESIDENT PERES: Yes.
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: First of all, you know you talked about my being a friend of Israel from the time I was a young senator.
PRESIDENT PERES: What was it, 32?
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thirty years old — 29, actually. But I arrived at the Senate educated by a righteous Christian, my father, who — we spent our dinner table — we assembled at our dinner table in the evening to have discussions and incidentally eat rather than eat and incidentally have discussions. And — but Israel captured my heart. I make no bones about it. That does not mean I do not understand and have a great empathy for the circumstances of the Palestinians, but Israel captured my heart and my imagination.
And my first visit here as a young senator, I sat before the desk of Golda Meir as she was chain smoking and pulling maps up and down behind me, explaining to me the Six Day War. And there was a young man sitting to my right, his name was Rabin. So I have had the great privilege of not only knowing you, but knowing every Prime Minister and President since the days of Golda Meir.
I think your observation is one that more of the world should understand, because as you pointed out, there is an international attempt to isolate Israel and — right now. And sometimes, we are our own worst enemy and playing into the hands of those who wish to do that. The peace process, as you pointed out, has two components to it, it always has: the actual definition of a state by borders and sovereign immunity and sovereign capabilities, but also the actual stuff of which a state is made. Institutions, everything from security forces to tax collection capability and everything in between. And that is underway.
And I hope — notwithstanding the mistrust you referenced, I hope the beginning of what I referred to as these indirect or proximity talks, I hope it is a vehicle, a vehicle by which we can begin to allay that layer of mistrust that has built over the last several years. Because if you look at the region, there is obviously a great deal more that should be uniting the Palestinians and the Israelis than any time since Ive been involved for 36 years. You point out that the great Persian people have had their history besmirched by the presence of the — Mr. Ahmadinejad and the theocracy.
But I would point out, Mr. President, that the moral sanctions you refer to have begun — and need not have been imposed by us, theyre being imposed by their own people. The people of Iran are making that argument clearly, engaging in their own form of morally sanctioning their government as we have and as the rest of the world is. I remote — since our administration has come to power, I would point out that Iran is more isolated — internally, externally — has fewer friends in the world. One of the reasons why President Obama insisted on engaging was in the — was with eyes wide open. The hope was that there would be some movement. But the reality was — the reality was so that we could in a sense point out to the rest of the world we need to deal with many of the things you mentioned.
But let me conclude in my very brief response here that I — I think this — we are at a moment of real opportunity. And I think that the — the interest of both the Palestinians and the Israeli people are — if everyone will just step back and take a deep breath — are actually very much more in line than they are in opposition. And when I first came here, my first 10 or 12 trips, the idea that we would speak with certitude about a two-state solution wasnt so obvious. So Id like to focus with you — if we have a chance to speak privately, Id like to focus with you on how we — how we take advantage of this moment for the security of Israel.
I just want to conclude by saying one thing that I know you understand — I know you understand about me and I know you understand it about President Obama — theres absolutely no space between the United States and Israel in terms of Israels security and our mutual security — none, none at all. Thats the basis in which this starts. Theres a lot we can do. But Im really flattered you would see me. And I’m anxious to –
PRESIDENT PERES: We were waiting for you. (Laughter.)
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, its good to be home. (Laughter.)
The Israelis suffer from collective paranoia. Especially concerning their security. That’s understandable given their history. Like an insecure and stunted adolescent the Israelis need to be reassured by the United States that no matter what we will always love them. Therein lies the problem. The US needs to pat the Israelis on the head, stick the pacifier back into their mouths and then kick them in the ass. We have always been quite good at pacifying the Israelis. But we have never been willing to kick them in the ass and force them to take the necessary steps to get a deal done with the Palestinians. Consequently after 50 years of war we, and they, are in the same place where we all began. Let’s hope that Obama begins to kick some Israeli ass. If he fails to do that the “Jewish” state of Israel will soon cease to exist in its current form. Peace
With Biden going to Israel, Imhotep, it’s *very* unlikely and totally improbable that there will be any “ass kicking.”
Hey, but I’d be more than happy to be proven wrong.
I’d rather see Biden in Israel than US troops in Iran.
Personally, I hope Biden tells Israel, “Take care of it as you see fit. You’ll get no condemnation from us.”
That’s just me.
I wonder how many new settlements will be built on Palestinian land as a result of Joe Biden’s trip?
JoeCHI, if the Israelis attack Iran it will be the end of Israel. First, the Iranians will attack the USA and Israel. We have all sorts of interesting targets all over the middle east these days. Then Hamas will attack Israel from the south. Hezbollah will fire thousands of rockets into Israel from the north. The Palestinians will attack Israel from the east. Syria will be drawn into the fight. Jordan will suffer massive civil disruptions caused by the displaced Palestinians living in that country. Egypt will be thrown into civil war which the Moslem Brotherhood has been agitating for since the 1960′s. Oil shipments will come to a standstill. (You might as well park your car.) The Sudan and Yemen will explode into bloodshed. Should I go on or do you get the picture? It might not be the Biblical Armageddon, but nobody will be able to tell the difference. Peace
mwfolsom says:
09 March 2010 at 12:23 pm
As if on cue…
http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0310/Israel_approves_1600_new_homes_in_E_Jerusalem_as_Biden_visits.html
UPDATE: See Biden’s very tough statement on this development.
For those valued readers who care about this issue and all topics foreign policy, which aren’t exactly money posts or eye catchers, I’m going to share the latest pool report from Biden’s visit. I so appreciate your continued interest, comments and emails on foreign policy.
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From this afternoon’s meeting with Netanyahu, Biden returned to the David Citadel hotel and met with opposition leader Tzipi Livni. He then taped an interview with Chris Matthews.
Around 4 p.m. Biden went to Mt. Herzl, Israel’s national cemetery and, wearing a black skullcap, laid a wreath on the graves of Zionism pioneer Theodore Herzl and of late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. The wreath of red and white flowers he laid on Rabin’s grave had a banner on it that read “The case of peace for which you fought has become our own.’’ Biden, flanked by Jill, was joined by Rabin’s children, Yuval and Dalia.
Biden then toured Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holcaust memorial museum. After the tour, Biden kindled the eternal flame in the Hall of Remembrance. A choir sang Hannah Szenes’s (sometimes written Sennesh’s) song commonly known as “Eli Eli’’ (really named “A Walk to Caesaria’’ I think.) Biden laid a wreath on a rock slab beneath which lay buried ashes of Jews murdered and cremated at six concentration camps. As the prayer for the souls of those killed was chanted, the lights in the already dark hall went out for about a minute (I’m told by mistake) spooking the security as the only light came eerily from the eternal flame reflecting off the ceiling.
After signing the visitor’s book at the end of his visit, Biden recalled how he took his sons to the Dachau concentration camp as teenagers so that they could understand as young men that “mankind could be so brutal.’’ “But also I took my son here to Israel to let him know that the indomitable spirit of human beings is not able to be snuffed out,’’ Biden said.
Biden signed the visitors book and said, roughly:
What I wrote in the book is as a fan of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats, writing about his Ireland, he said, too long a suffering makes a stone of the heart. What I wrote here is that every day Israel makes alive the poet’s words too long a suffering makes a stone of the heart which is for world Jewry Israel is the heart. For world Jewry, Israel is the light. For world Jewry, Israel is the hope. If anyone every wondered about that they ought to take the tour of the museum. They would not doubt it again.
The word, phrase “never again’’ is used so often it almost has lost its meaning. But then again all you have to do is walk through, walk through Yad Vashem and understand how incredible, how incredible the journey has been…for world Jewry and why Israel is such a central part to its existence.
Biden’s last stop for the day is back at the prime minister’s residence for dinner with Netanyahu.
“Let’s hope that Obama can kick some Israeli ass” –Imhotep, echoed by Taylor.
Very mature, guys.
The sad thing is that I can’t imagine either of you ever having an exchange hoping that, “Obama can kick some Iranian ass.”
Israel is certainly not made up of angels and I disagree with the 1,600 homes built today. HOWEVER, The maniacal Ahab-like focus on Israel’s faults, while ignoring and failing to condemn Iran, Syria, Hamas, and other obstructionists to a two-state solution is truly bizarre, and troubling.
From Taylor’s link in the post above:
“Hours before Mr Biden’s arrival on Monday, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving 112 new homes in Beitar Illit in the West Bank.”
This just shows Israel’s fundamental contempt for the United States. Obviously it was timed to further prove to the Arab public that the US is a puppet state of Israel and that they can steal their land and that their IDF can kill as many Palestinians as they want and do it anytime they want since they own the US Government.
mwfolson, “the IDF can kill as many Palestinians as they want”–> do you wake up everyday trying to think of the most provocative things to say against the state of Israel? I don’t remember you, in addition to ripping the IDF’s campaign in Gaza, also condemning rocket attacks indiscriminately fired on Kindergarteners in the Israeli city of Sderot…
Liberalastheycome, if Israel keeps on keeping on they will find themselves living in one great, big, giant state of Israel filled with Palestinians. The Jews will be outnumbered and Isreal will no longer be a “Jesish” state. That is called a one state solution. That day is rapidly approaching. If you are a “true friend” of Israel, Liberalastheycome, you might try getting a more balanced view of the realities of the situation. Peace
Imhotep you’ve missed an essential component of Liberastheycome’s world view. Since Liberalastheycome does not believe the Palestinians are people their relative percentage in Israel isn’t much of an issue. At any rate, if them there Palestinians forget their place and get uppity they can always be culled.