Biden, in D.C.: It's great to be where construction boom is a good thing
Israel's approval of East Jerusalem housing during Vice President's visit stirred tensions with U.S.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news East JerusalemU.S. Vice President Joe Biden made an appearance at Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner in Washington upon his return from the Middle East this week, taking the opportunity to describe his disappointing visit to the audience.
"I just got back from five days in the Middle East," Biden said. "I love to travel, but it's great to be back to a place where a boom in housing construction is actually a good thing," he said. Israel announced during Biden's visit that it had approved construction of 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem, a move which the U.S. called an "insult" due to its timing.
United States President Barack Obama said Wednesday that there was no crisis in ties with Israel, despite a high-profile diplomatic feud over the approval of construction.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai gave approval for the construction hours after Biden spoke about Obama's commitment to Israel's security in the face of what both countries see as threats from Iran.
Obama said in the interview that he had sent Biden to the region at a moment when the United States was trying to restart talks between Israelis and the Palestinians.
"I specifically sent Vice President Biden to Israel to send a message of support and reassurance about my belief that Israel's security is sacrosanct and that we have a host of shared interests," Obama said. "There is a disagreement in terms of how we can move this peace process forward."
He added: "The actions that were taken by the interior minister in Israel weren't helpful to that process. Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged as much and apologized for it."
"What we need right now is both sides to recognize that it is in their interests to move this peace process forward."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called the timing of the move a "bureaucratic mishap".
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..next time I'll do it on a MOnday.
About time someone gave the government of Israel a boot in the behind. Time to wake up, and see that your future is not in extending your borders. As a US taxpayer, I would love to see the administration take the entire amount of aide we send Israel every year, and instead distribute it internally to our small businesses to help with the crisis.
After the administration made all that noise about Israel insulting them, seems they have no problem insulting Israel. I voted for Obama, but I am disgusted and disappointed with this public denigration. It will be an uphill battle to convince me to vote for him again.
Biden is looking down on Israel as a superior, NOT as a friend, which is not exceptional behavior of the U.S.A today; this is the U.S.A*s approach to the world today quite generally; remember how the U.S.A reacted to the Haiti earthquake! Brought in 10 000 troops without Haiti*s permission! Took over the airport and turned away incoming planes with aid and personnel!!! AND prevented the aid-distribution of the EU-aid to the needy!!!! AND the American cruise line-tourists arrived in Haiti to be entertained(!) by the people, whose country lied in ruins and 250 000 had just lost their lives!!!! ARROGANT INSENSITIVITY beyond words!!!! There is only one word to describe today*s U.S.A: EXTREME ARROGANCE! Biden appears to be an extension of this arrogance, so typical to the U.S.A nowadays. Bad, bad U.S.A!
Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. It was an innocent little joke, for crying out loud!
Let's stop making fun of Biden or insulting him. In fact everything that did happen between Netanyahu and Biden was ridiculous ! The Interior Ministry should have keep quiet during Biden's visit. And Netanyahu should have stop acting like a angry kid managing to break the glass of the friendship certificate he presented Biden! Peace with Palestinians is possible but they have no serious leaders ! In fact we don't really need them ! If we're serious concerning peace we should have serious ''secret'' discussions with the leaders of Jordan, Saudis and the cheiks of the Arabic Peninsula. Israel could keep Jerusalem but agree to the internationalization of some parts of it with police officers from U.S.A., Jordan and Saudi's. Palestinian refuges could get immigration visas to U.S.A or other countries like Canada, Brasil or Indonesia.
Joe is not who I voted for, but he handles himself with a lot of class and good humor. More than we have seen from certain "friends" of ours in the Mid East.
I actually can't believe that this is what is running my country.
those wanting to destroy Israel by carving out parts of the Jewish capital. Mr. Biden can make people laugh back home, but here in Israel things are serious...very serious.By building in Jerusalem,Jews do what is expected from them; prepare Israel for the next generations.
If the U.S.votes in two inept men as their leaders then the U.S. gets what they deserve. Having either obama or biden represent this country makes a person's stomach turn. As for obama he has acted abysmally towards foreign leaders..his treatment of the prime minister of england and france makes a person shutter. He also treated Netanyahu as if he were a non entity allowing him to enter only through the back door. Please don't threaten Israel because the U.S.,as strong as she is,will be the loser in this game of chicken you are proposing. If you had any idea or even cared to know how important Israel is to the U.S. you would not utter such nonsense. Again Biden is an idiot...a plagiarist..and a liar...and he and obama are leading the U.S.down a dangerous path that will only bring us closer to the islamic jihadists and further away from the democracies of the world. ayres and wright and in the distance farrakhan are all smiling..can you guess why?
Is he really so blind as not to see the insult in that comment? Some friend (sarcasm). I won't vote Republican but he just lost my vote.
It would be a good thing if it was just a neighborhood, not a "Jewish neighborhood." It's this segregation that keeps Israel from getting peace. Designed segregation to keep people a part will only have them believing in the worst of each other (colonists vs. terrorists).
The disrespect shown to VP Biden on his visit to Israel may not make a lot of difference in how the government sees Israel but to a lot of Americans it made a big difference in how Israel is viewed . After 60 years of support if you cant give anything to help a peace process then a lot of us think you dont need our help anymore . No money no millitary supplys, no vetos in the security council of the UN to protect israel, and no to doing anything about Iran . you want to thumb your nose at us? fine go it alone.
The annual correspondents' dinner is tanatamount to a roast...the speakers make jokes. It was funny. And BTW, lay off Biden- he's a hell of a lot better than the dishonest creeps running Israel.
Joe Biden... The Mediator... The Diplomat... The Vice President of the USA... The Statesman... The Peace Negotiator... Friend of Israel... Considering all this you would have thought he would have been able to deliver a speech with a little more tact. Apparently he does not understand a damn thing about diplomacy, how dare he tell Israel (A Sovreign State) not to build in their capital city and then publicly declare how wonderful it is to see a booming construction industry in his country. Diplomat, Statesman, Mediator? Nope I think after this speech, Tactless Fool would be a better adjective!!!
good to be where contruction boom is a good thing... Maybe Israel will demand an expanation to such a stupid comment.
Construction in Jerusalem is a wonderful, marvelous, vibrant and mitvahfilled thing.
too. It is a Jewish neighborhood not far from the PM office. It is the Israeli capital.Biden has gone off the deep end and has lost creability.