Biden tells Israel: The status quo in Middle East cannot be sustained

In his speech at Tel Aviv University yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden warned that the status quo in the Middle East is unsustainable, and stressed that the U.S. would do everything to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Calling on Israelis and Palestinians to take "historically bold" steps in order to bring an end to the conflict, Biden told the audience that in view of the region's demography, Israel will be unable to reconcile being "a Jewish homeland and a democratic country."

He acknowledged the formidable obstacles that remain: the Hamas presence in Gaza, the continued captivity of Gilad Shalit in Gaza, the strength of Hezbollah guerrillas to Israel's north in Lebanon, and ongoing Palestinian incitement against Israel. He said such challenges are strong reminders of Israel's security concerns.

Many Israelis waited to see whether Biden would slam Israel for the incident the day before, in which 1,600 new housing units were authorized for construction in East Jerusalem. However, the vice president played down the latest tensions between Washington and Jerusalem, repeatedly stressing the close ties the two nations share. The United States, the vice president said, has "no better friend than Israel."

The announcement of new construction - seen as a slap in the face to Biden - drew a sharp condemnation from the vice president as well as a Palestinian threat to withdraw from the U.S.-mediated indirect talks before they even begin.

Biden reiterated his condemnation of the building plan, urging both sides to avoid acts that could undermine the negotiations. "I, at the request of President Obama, condemned it immediately and unequivocally," he said.

He said that the U.S. stands beside the Jewish state in the face of external threats, including the "insidious campaign to challenge Israel's right to exist."

"Every day Israel faces threats no country should have to endure. America stands with you shoulder to shoulder facing these threats. The United States stands firmly next to Israel against the scourge of terrorism," he said.

On Iran's nuclear program the vice president reassured the Israeli public that the United States is committed to taking a strong stance against its contentious nuclear program. "The U.S. is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Period," Biden declared.

Police said yesterday that the traffic problems caused by the visit of the vice president to Tel Aviv University were less than expected. Police had asked that Biden be flown by helicopter to the campus, rather than block one of Israel's main traffic arteries during peak hours, but U.S. security personnel insisted that he be driven.

"The truck that overturned two weeks ago near Netanya caused more trouble than the entire Biden convoy," a police source said yesterday.

Police closed off sections of highway and gradually reopened them to traffic, as the convoy, carrying several dozen people, passed under heavy security arrangements. The announcement of the pending traffic problems in the media led many people to leave their homes before 9 A.M. yesterday, trying to beat the traffic caused by the roadblocks.