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Vice presidential candidates Joe Biden, left, and Sarah Palin shaking hands at the start of their debate in St. Louis on Thursday. (AP)
Last update - 14:58 03/10/2008
Biden: Bush Mideast policy a failure; Palin: Mideast will top our agenda
By Haaretz Service and Agencies
Tags: Israel News, U.S. elections 

The U.S. vice presidential candidates were both effusive in their support for Israel during their debate in St. Louis on Thursday. While Democratic Senator Joe Biden slammed the current administration for "abject failure" and said that Republican candidate John McCain was offering nothing different, Republican Governor Sarah Palin vowed that the Middle East would be "top of the agenda" under McCain's leadership.

"A two-state solution is the solution," said Palin. "And Secretary Rice, having recently met with leaders on one side or the other there also, still in these waning days of the Bush administration, trying to forge that peace. And that needs to be done, and that will be top-of-an-agenda item also under a McCain-Palin administration."

Meanwhile, Biden described himself as Israel's best friend in the U.S. Senate, warning that forcing Israel into a diplomatic process had backfired for President George W. Bush.
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Citing the 2006 elections that had resulted in the Islamist Hamas winning control in the Palestinian territories, Biden pointed out that the current Republican administration had pushed for the elections.

"Speaking of freedom being on the march, the only thing on the march is Iran," Biden said. "It's closer to a bomb. Its proxies now have a major stake in Lebanon, as well as in the Gaza Strip with Hamas."

"We will change this policy with thoughtful, real, live diplomacy that understand that you must back Israel in letting them negotiate, support their negotiation and stand with them, not insist on policies like this administration has," he added.

On the subject of Iran, neither candidate was willing to brand it more or less dangerous than nuclear-armed Pakistan. Using the same phrase, both Biden and Palin branded the two countries as "extremely dangerous."

Referring to Iran's threats to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and echoing comments by her running-mate, the Alaskan governor said: "We have got to assure them [Israel] we will never allow a second Holocaust."

Biden warned that while Iran was seeking nuclear capabilities, it was "not close to getting a nuclear weapon that can be deployed," Pakistan already has atomic weapons that "can already hit Israel and the Mediterranean."

Palin, however, highlighted the Iranian threat, saying that "Israel is in jeopardy from Iran," and that Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "is not sane or stable."

"Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons," she said.

Biden, who head of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee, pounced on her comments, saying that "Ahmadinejad does not control the security apparatus in Iran, the theocracy does."

The two clashed over claims that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had expressed willingness to hold talks without preconditions with the Iranian regime.

Palin repeated her recent remarks that it would be naive to sit down with Iran's rulers, despite support to do just that from five former secretaries of state.

"Those who would try to destroy what we stand for cannot be met with," Palin said.

Biden took the opposite stance, saying: "Our friends have been telling us to sit down and talk with Iran."

Palin and Biden also clashed on the economy and Iraq during the lively but polite debate on Thursday, and aimed most criticism at their rivals at the top of the ticket.

In the only vice presidential debate ahead of the November 4 election, Biden accused McCain of being "out of touch" on the economic crisis and said he was "no maverick" on crucial issues facing Americans.

Palin said Obama was too partisan to work across party lines to accomplish change and was waving a "white flag of surrender" in Iraq.

With all eyes on Palin in her national debut in an unscripted format, the Alaska governor turned in a steady and aggressive performance that featured repeated attacks on Obama and pledges she and McCain would work for the middle-class.

She frequently displayed the folksy style that has become a favorite target of late-night comics. "Aw, say it ain't so, Joe," she told Biden at one point, adding a "doggone it" for good measure.

Biden also had an emotional moment, choking up when recalling having to raise his two young sons alone after their mother died in a car crash.

As the two strode on the stage, Palin greeted Biden, saying: "Nice to meet you. Can I call you Joe?"

Biden pledged he and Obama would end the war. Obama is an early critic of the Iraq war who has called for a 16-month timeline to withdraw U.S. troops. "Your plan is a white flag of surrender," Palin told Biden.

Both candidates said they would work to change current U.S. economic policy to make it more friendly to middle-class workers, but Biden noted McCain had called the fundamentals of the economy strong as the Wall Street crisis broke out.

"That doesn't make John McCain a bad guy, but it does point out he's out of touch," Biden, a Delaware senator, said on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Palin said McCain was talking about the American workforce and said Obama would raise taxes on American workers and small business owners. Obama has called for a middle-class tax cut and would raise taxes only on those making more than $250,000.

'Something new'

"I do respect your years in the U.S. Senate, but I think Americans are craving something new and different," Palin told Biden.

The highly anticipated match-up promised more than the usual drama because of curiosity about Palin, a relative unknown who was thrust into instant celebrity when she was selected as McCain's No. 2 in August.

The encounter may have drawn a larger television audience than the 52 million who watched last week's first debate between the presidential candidates.

Palin hoped a solid performance could help slow Obama's momentum, which has seen the Illinois senator solidify his lead in national opinion polls and grab an advantage in crucial state battlegrounds like Florida and Ohio.

Biden said the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street he voted for, along with Obama and McCain, might force the Democrats to reconsider their promise to double foreign aid.

"The one thing we might have to slow down is a commitment we made to double foreign assistance," he said when asked what programs might have to be jettisoned because of the financial crisis.

Palin said there was nothing she and McCain would have to forego. "There hasn't been a whole lot that I've promised, except to do what is right for the American people," she said. "I don't believe that John McCain has made any promise that he would not be able to keep, either."

Palin's lack of national experience and her hesitant performance in rare media interviews had raised doubts about her readiness and prompted criticism even from some prominent conservatives.

But she said her experience as a governor and as a mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska, was her strength as a candidate for vice president. She frequently said she and McCain were a team of mavericks who could change Washington.

"John McCain has been the consummate maverick," she said. "Barack Obama, of course, he's pretty much only voted along his party lines."

Biden said McCain had not been a maverick on the vital issues facing the United States from health care to Iraq. "He's not been a maverick on virtually anything that people talk about around the kitchen table," he said.

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      1.   Palin Ready! 03:34  |  Fulghum 03/10/08
      2.   Joe, watch out for snake Palin (not Pliskin) 03:37  |  Mark B. 03/10/08
      3.   IT is about to start 03:58  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/08
      4.   BO`s butler Biden bidden to shine some shoes! 04:18  |  PK 03/10/08
      5.   Palin Israel`s Best Friend! Palin for Prez! 05:00  |  PK 03/10/08
      6.   PK, she is standing 05:09  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/08
      7.   Palin is bad fo America & Israel 05:13  |  C3 03/10/08
      8.   If they were high heeled Jack Boots 05:16  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/08
      9.   Debate 05:47  |  Jasper 03/10/08
      10.   I wish 05:59  |  Mark Lincoln 03/10/08
      11.   OMG, she`s even more of an airhead than I thought 06:08  |  Aphemia 03/10/08
      12.   Biden won this one! 06:09  |  American 03/10/08
      13.   Biden 06:23  |  Sara 03/10/08
      14.   Palin ready! 06:32  |  Yair 03/10/08
      15.   Biden is the clear winner 06:37  |  marc 03/10/08
      16.   Points of Agreement 06:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      17.   maverick 06:50  |  OMG 03/10/08
      18.   Sarah Palin 06:57  |  Siskona 03/10/08
      19.   Mark Lincoln 07:03  |  Yosemite 03/10/08
      20.   Hey Allen Fulghum! What if Obama Wins? 07:04  |  BBSNews 03/10/08
      21.   Palin - all the way with Mcain. 07:12  |  Maureen Ann 03/10/08
      22.   MIdeast Ahenda VP-Debate 07:36  |  Abraham Cykiert, 03/10/08
      23.   19 Yosemite - We Have ZERO Capability 07:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      24.   Fulghum 08:06  |  Michael 03/10/08
      25.   The Land of Israel is ours by Historical and Moral right. 08:07  |  Jean Van Daem 03/10/08
      26.   #9 Mark Lincoln`s Red State Blue State BS 08:12  |  Bruce 03/10/08
      27.   #20, bbs, no one fears obama 08:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/10/08
      28.   #116, Mark of Lewiston 08:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/10/08
      29.   Strong support for Israel from both candidates 09:23  |  Shalom Freedman 03/10/08
      30.   Totally predictable, routine brown-nosing to American Jews 09:30  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      31.   Palin is the Best!! - for the US & Israel! 09:51  |  Nadav 03/10/08
      32.   "Tw-state solution" yet, the Arabs recognize the right of one of 09:59  |  Nahum 03/10/08
      33.   Appealing to the Gonad Vote # 11 10:00  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      34.   For Aphemia # 11 10:07  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      35.   Calling all enemies of Israel. 10:12  |  ATLAS 03/10/08
      36.   The perfect qualification # 22 10:14  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      37.   A Zionist rants # 24 10:33  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      38.   What do you have in mind, Yosemite? 10:39  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      39.   all you pro-Israeli Palin lovers 10:47  |  red house 03/10/08
      40.   Palin Rocks,is a refreshing Shock and Awe , Won The VP Debate, 10:50  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      41.   Unthinking support for Israel doesn`t bring peace. 11:02  |  Michael 03/10/08
      42.   Ex-U.S. marine commander blames Iran, Syria and Hizbolah 11:18  |  Ben Menachem 03/10/08
      43.   By the way...... #33 11:25  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      44.   #25 Jews dont have more rights here than the UK had in Rhodesia 11:33  |  Fritz T. 03/10/08
      45.   What did you like, Joseph E? # 40 11:47  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      46.   STOP SUPPORT ISRAEL OR DIE 11:56  |  indrajaya 03/10/08
      47.   palin ready? i don`t think so !! 12:15  |  mula 03/10/08
      48.   2 States Solution is Part of Dhimmitude.Won`t Solve The Israeli-A 12:20  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      49.   Pull the US teat out of the mouth of the Settler Enterprise 12:30  |  Ivar 03/10/08
      50.   # 45 Clickfool 12:34  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      51.   Thank you, Sarah Palin! 12:44  |  No Obama 03/10/08
      52.   Realistically, pragmatically, only the Jordanian Option for the 13:15  |  Dubi 03/10/08
      53.   The Pandering was disgusting 13:41  |  Joe 03/10/08
      54.   At least no embarrassment this time for "roboter" Palin..... 13:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 03/10/08
      55.   26 Cipora - I Suspect you`re Right 13:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      56.   Joseph E - Those Pesky Undecideds 13:56  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      57.   Dhimmedias quote "Biden described himself as Israel`s best friend 14:00  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      58.   # 56 Mark of Lewiston 14:16  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      59.   Clickfool 14:25  |  Yosemite 03/10/08
      60.   Saturday Night Live...on Thursday night..ha 14:47  |  jc 03/10/08
      61.   #46 - PALIN IS ABOUT LIFE, CHOOSE LIFE 14:56  |  Barry S. Roffman 03/10/08
      62.   The late night comics 15:06  |  Anonymous 03/10/08
      63.   That awful, awful voice..... 15:39  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      64.   Quit Now 15:41  |  NEJ 03/10/08
      65.   To Jean Van Daem: Moral &Historical rights? 16:05  |  Joora 03/10/08
      66.   Mark of Lewiston #23 16:12  |  Teresa-Maria 03/10/08
      67.   Something to be nervous about.... 16:19  |  Teresa-Maria 03/10/08
      68.   U.S. ME Policy is made in Tel Aviv 16:22  |  Bitin Dawg 03/10/08
      69.   best friend in the Senate 16:46  |  Shmuelshachor 03/10/08
      70.   Palin Won and the Left is besides itself 17:35  |  Eli 03/10/08
      71.   Sarah `Princess` Palin...Protector of Freedom 17:50  |  Pastor Joseph 03/10/08
      72.   It is time the Americans began to view the Jordanian Option more 17:52  |  Albert 03/10/08
      73.   The next Vice-President Sarah `Princess` Palin 17:53  |  Pastor Joseph 03/10/08
      74.   Palin is more than ready. 18:15  |  Joule 03/10/08
      75.   How many of you Israelis can actually `UNDERSTAND ENGLISH`?? 18:19  |  red house 03/10/08
      76.   #68 the ddisater is because the usa does not observe its solemn t 18:21  |  victor hardman 03/10/08
      77.   For "Pastor" Joseph # 71 18:24  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      78.   #65 joora and half a loaf of history 18:25  |  victor hardman 03/10/08
      79.   "Pastor" Joseph and his creaking, right-wing stereotypes # 73 18:31  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      80.   34 18:35  |  DANNY. 03/10/08
      81.   No One But Israel and the Arabs Can Make Peace 18:42  |  Jane 03/10/08
      82.   # 65 Joora 19:08  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      83.   Irony 19:12  |  Jon 03/10/08
      84.   # 68 Bitin Dawg 19:13  |  Joseph.E 03/10/08
      85.   Best looking lady in Washington, by far. Also. 19:45  |  Stephen. 03/10/08
      86.   For Red House, on the coming election # 75 20:10  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      87.   Joseph E - In Peacetime 20:13  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      88.   66 Teresa Marie - Begging for Troops 20:21  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      89.   71/73 Pastor Joe - Royalist References 20:27  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      90.   Quoting Biblical Passages 20:42  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      91.   #55 Mark of Lewiston.....it`s called 20:43  |  Lynn 03/10/08
      92.   #20 No one fears obama 21:17  |  Concerned Citizen 03/10/08
      93.   And she really won the debate 21:20  |  Lynn 03/10/08
      94.   red house 39 21:21  |  Bill H. 03/10/08
      95.   #21 Maureen ....could just as easily been self confidence 21:27  |  Lynn 03/10/08
      96.   #89 Mark of Lewiston and some of us 21:30  |  Lynn 03/10/08
      97.   #66 Teresa-Maria.....Don`t worry, 21:34  |  Lynn 03/10/08
      98.   For Stephen, who has the hots for Palin # 85 22:10  |  Clickfool 03/10/08
      99.   Biden and Palin on Israel-Palestine 22:50  |  Dan Whitesell 03/10/08
      100.   Lynn - At This Point, Nobody`s Honest 23:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/10/08
      101.   Lynn... We already are... 23:47  |  Teresa-Maria 03/10/08
      102.   #100 Mark of Lewiston....About the sexual assault 00:18  |  Lynn 04/10/08
      103.   C3 00:21  |  Connie 04/10/08
      104.   Schmelshachor 00:31  |  Connie 04/10/08
      105.   #95 Lynn. Iraq has a surplus $79 billion. 01:10  |  Maureen Ann 04/10/08
      106.   Why America supports Israel 04:12  |  Polyarmour 04/10/08
      107.   #98 clickFOOL.could it be your...`arse` is the 05:17  |  Pastor Joseph 04/10/08
      108.   biden is right/bush piece for Israel is a failure;only he forgets 05:27  |  glenna 04/10/08
      109.   Palin did not answer every question she was asked. 08:24  |  Maria 04/10/08
      110.   The Republicans said she won the debate. 08:27  |  Maria 04/10/08
      111.   I don`t think Palin is ready 08:32  |  NS 04/10/08
      112.   Do they even know where the Middle East is on the world map? 09:52  |  Benjamina 04/10/08
      113.   For Polyarmour # 106 10:08  |  Clickfool 04/10/08
      114.   #106 and #113 Polyarmour, tell clickFOOL 18:19  |  Pastor Joseph 04/10/08
      115.   Click and Benjamina 18:41  |  Ben 04/10/08
      116.   To PK and the Rest 22:34  |  Persian Kitty 04/10/08
      117.   Clickfool 00:04  |  thundercloud65 05/10/08
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