It had appeared to me that Joe Biden was beginning to make progress toward restarting negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Then Israel slammed the door.
Hours after the arrival Tuesday of Vice President Joe Biden to help launch indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Israel announced the construction of 1,600 homes in a settlement block in mostly Arab East Jerusalem, an open rebuff that led Biden to issue a sharply worded condemnation.
"I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem," Biden said in a statement issued by the White House.
"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."
The announcement by the Israeli Interior Ministry came during Biden’s first day in the region, the highest profile visit by an Obama administration official. It appeared to catch the administration off guard.
President Barack Obama repeatedly had demanded a halt in settlement construction in order to revive the moribund peace negotiations.
Just hours before the announcement, Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. was "optimistic" that indirect talks would begin a process by which a final peace deal could be reached.
"I am very pleased that you and the Palestinian leadership have agreed to launch indirect talks. We hope that these talks will lead, and they must lead eventually, to negotiations and direct discussions between the parties," Biden said.
He said his visit was meant to highlight the "unbreakable" bond between Israel and the U.S., especially on issues of security.
"Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the United States and Israel. There is no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel’s security," he said
The Israeli decision to approve 1,600 new settler homes could torpedo the talks before they have even begun, officials from the Palestinian Authority said… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <McClatchy DC>
Even though the embedded map is over 18 months out of date, it clearly shows the extent of the Israeli incursion into Palestinian territory. This indicates that Israel’s intent is to eliminate the Palestinian state, guaranteed by treaty, through attrition. The timing of Israel’s announcement is a slap in the US face for having the audacity to try to achieve peace. It shows that Israel does not want peace. While I have no objection to the US guaranteeing Israel’s sovereignty (in their OWN territory only), I think it’s tome to withdraw the military aid being used for Israel’s predatory behavior toward the Palestinians.
6 Responses to “Does Israel Even Want Peace?”
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I agree. If only we COULD withhold military aid.
While I understand the notion by some that Israel has become our 51st state, I say it is more like Israel is our First State. Nobody gets power in the US Government without first stating some form of “pledge of allegience” to AIPAC and Israel. It is almost as if Israel dominates the US.
Dave, I hope more people pay attention to J Street, a group that expresses support for Israel’s interests, not the policies of the current government. AIPAC has become the bastion for the Amarican Taliban and a few extreme Zionist Jews.
I don’t think there’s any “almost” about it. America is Israel’s bitch, pure and simple.
And no, Israel doesn’t want peace. They want to expand and expand and expand until every last Arab and Palestinian has been pushed out. And then they’ll expand some more, until they hit the West Bank — of the Rhine.
Tom, I can’t argue with that.
Perhaps Israel won’t be happy until all Palestinians are driven to the Red Sea.
Perhaps you’re right. That’s the way I see it.