NJDC “Proud of Vice President Biden”
Listed in: Israel, NJDC News, Press Releases
WASHINGTON, DC – Marc R. Stanley, Chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement:
The National Jewish Democratic Council is proud of Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel and all that it has accomplished, and we support him fully – including his frank and honest words delivered in response to the unfortunately-timed announcement of plans for new housing units made by Israel’s Interior Ministry.
Regardless of any honest disagreements about settlement policies, the trip of Vice President Biden to Israel has been vitally important. The close strategic cooperation between Israel and the administration of President Barack Obama was on display for the world to see as the Vice President told Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu about this administration’s ‘absolute, total unvarnished commitment to Israel’s security. ... There is no space between the US and Israel when it comes to Israel’s security.’ The Vice President’s deep emotional connection was similarly on display when he told President Shimon Peres before their meeting, ‘...Israel captured my heart. I make no bones about it. ...Israel captured my heart and my imagination.’
The importance of the Vice President’s trip, to discuss strategic cooperation on Iran and other critical matters, was also underscored by the Prime Minister when he noted, ‘President Obama has said in Cairo, and he has repeated this many times since, that the bonds between Israel and the United States are unbreakable. And he has shown that in the last year in things that are known to the public and some things that are not known to the public. In pursuing, for example, the joint military exercises for military defense between the Israeli army and the American military; in securing Israel’s qualitative military edge; and in many other activities along the world’s scene, including the battle against the infamous Goldstone report. I think that the bonds – exactly as President Obama has said, the bonds are unbreakable. And your visit demonstrates how strong they are.’
On Tuesday, the Vice President – echoing a bipartisan American disagreement with Israel over settlement policy dating back decades – spoke honestly and directly, as only close friends can, when he condemned an unfortunately-timed announcement by Israel’s Interior Ministry of new housing units beyond the Green Line. While some on the right have wrongly questioned this administration’s pro-Israel bona-fides as a result, it’s important to accurately place this action in context.
In fact, Israel’s Interior Minister Eli Yishai – who was asked by Prime Minister Netanyahu not to allow any ‘surprises’ during the Vice President’s visit – has apologized to Biden and dubbed the ill-timed announcement ‘unpleasant’ and ‘regrettable.’ Moreover, Defense Minister Ehud Barak labeled the action ‘damaging’ while one of his subordinates in the Defense Ministry echoed Biden’s words about the action being detrimental to the newly re-started proximity talks.
American and Israeli policies on the issue of settlements have differed for forty years. If anyone thinks that the Vice President’s honest words were unprecedented, once again, context is key. For comparison, one only needs to look at the statements made by Republican President George H.W. Bush’s emissaries to Israel and the Middle East, and the statements by Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan regarding settlements, for example.
The NJDC continues to be deeply thankful for the ongoing unprecedented levels of economic and strategic cooperation between Israel and the United States under this Administration, and for the commitment to advancing Israel’s security and peace – as well as the diplomatic skills resulting from a lifetime of experience – on display by the Vice President in Israel this week.
