Mishaps galore as Israel tries to welcome U.S. Vice President
Biden's Jerusalem trip punctuated by embarrassing incidents, the first of which was Peres' speech.
By Barak Ravid and Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Shimon Peres Israel newsU.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Jerusalem Tuesday was not free of embarrassing moments.
The first occurred at the President's Residence, at the start of a meeting between Biden and President Shimon Peres. The plan called for brief remarks, which usually means a few minutes. But Peres spoke for no less than 25 minutes.
Throughout the speech, the vice president sat in his chair waiting for his turn to say something. American reporters and others present at the scene said the whole thing was very embarrassing, because, as one put it, Peres "gave a whole speech, going from one subject to another."
Many of those present were shifting uncomfortably in their chairs, the sources said, while Peres' aides exchanged worried looks and passed notes to each other.
In the end, his aides whispered to Peres that time was short, and he should hand the floor over to Biden - who did confine his remarks to a few minutes. The two then held their meeting, accompanied by their aides.
Ayelet Frisch, a spokeswoman for the President's Residence, later said the first part of the meeting was intended to be open to the media. "The president did take a little longer in his speech, speaking for about 23 minutes," she said. "However, there was no digression from what was agreed on with the Americans regarding how the meeting would be conducted."
Another embarrassing incident occurred at the Prime Minister's residence, when Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to give a symbolic gift to Biden - a framed document giving the details of several trees planted in Jerusalem in memory of the vice president's mother, who was a great supporter of Israel.
But when Netanyahu handed the document to Biden, he discovered that the glass face had shattered, and shards flew all over. "I wanted to give you broken glass," Netanyahu quipped, reacting quickly: He took the document from the frame, wrote a dedication and signed it with a pen that Biden loaned him.
"It is because of this Irishwoman that I so love Israel. She taught me," said a clearly moved Biden.
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it's the american politicians who DO disagree with the current u.s. policy in the middle-east who are hanging on to to the "coat-tails of power"...no no no, make that the purse strings of power. aipac's purse strings to be precise. don't get me wrong either, i don't care much for old joe; he's one of those who wears blinders when it comes to israel crimes. i just wanted to set you straight on your misguided perception of WHICH american politicians are "hanging on to things, and WHAT those things are.
What does Biden have to do or say about Israel in the first place? Let him wait. No one really cares to hear what he says anyway. Maybe next time, He'll do everybody a favor and stay home . Bye Bye Bye- den
.....as a friend of Israel, but not as a representative of the greatest American Presidential liar since Richard Nixon. Unfortunately in one respect he is too much like Israeli politicians - he prefers to hang on to the coat-tails of power than to act with principle and disagree with the current US policy in the mid-East.
I am utterly embarrassed being Israeli: our politicians, icluding our president, are experts in gaffes than anything else. The timing of Ishai's annoucement just proves that tact and diplomacy doesn't exists in Israel. Shame and disgraceful!!
Don't feel badly; Joe Biden makes a fool of himself on a regular basis here at home. The man is an idiot. Nothing Peres does could possibly be worse.
To be sure it would have been the ghost of Mr Biden's deceased mother causing the shards of glass to fly. She's looking down on her son trying to warn him of the foxy old devil in Israel.
Only Hashem is perfect. So, in a way, G-d's presence was also in that act of shattering, even as no woman was present in all these exchanges of peace, but the memory of a lost loved one. The shattered glass symbolizes the destroyed Jewish Temple which we are striving to rebuild, and to which everyone strenuously seems to be reacting to. It is that glass that is shattered by every hatan, Jewish groom on his wedding day. May He restore our service speedily and soon.
most American's think of him a sort of joke If the USA was really concerned, Obama would have personally made the trip, as he did to the Arab Countires
....any bigger sins, the ME would be a much nicer and more peaceful place today.
about the jerusalem construction.
And from the news, it sounds like Biden's found out a harsh reality about Israel. First hand! So much for the United States standing by those who want peace, ay Joe?
It is high time to do away with the wasteful office of the president. What do we need a figurehead for? To ease another old politician into retirement with an even more inflated pension. NIS 100 million per year, year after year, right down the toilet.
Israel has made it perfectly clear who is in charge of US foreign policy in the near east (was there really any doubt?). Biden made a fool of himself, gushing over the magnificence of Israel while at the same time Israel was humiliating him and his boss. Pathetic. When will the goyim recognize they have long been considered fools by the "chosen ones".
Well, I for one, am glad the mask has been dropped by Israel. Of course, it has been widely known within the US administation what Israel's true goals, and feelings were. At least these series of public insults, humilliations, or whatever you want to call them will give plenty of cover for the US to do what it should have done long ago, and that is to let Israel reap the crop it has sown. A nuclear Iran may give a new perspective on just how much, and what, was gained by so pointedly insulting Israel's prime benifactor. I have heard some say that if pressed, the US would be hard pressed to deny Israel a corridor to bomb Iran. I now say, AIPAC and all of it's apologists in congress would be hard pressed to make a case for the US to OPEN that corridor. Stenny Hoyer & co. must be shaking his head in disbelief that Israel would so pointedly screw itself. As a Jewish fellow once said, "Ye shall reap what ye sow?
Could this be symbolic of the evident shift in US policy toward Israel. Where have these jockies been this past year while Iran has heightened the nuclear stakes. This is making Bush look like a real hero!
In fact, as usual President Shimon Peres spoke eloquently and remarkable that he's always tooting for Israel despite the current difficulties. And by the way, as another experienced statesman, Vice President Biden responded eloquently by stating that he loved to listen to President Peres speak and he reminded everyone the decades of knowing Shimon Peres and the Prime Ministers from Golda Meir until today's PM Netanyahu. So nothing wrong with the opening remarks. Keep up the good work President Peres!
it's a mishap the democrat degenerates ever made it there and blind people who voted for the democrat degenerates are going to figure that out before obama gets through destroying the US.no wonder 2012 is predicted to be the end;obama is working fast to make sure the end does happen in 2012,near the end of his term, near the end of the US before the world ends!
a framed document giving the details of several trees planted in Jerusalem in memory of the vice president's mother, who was a great supporter of Israel. How sweet and how prophetic that the glass was shattered! I use to be a great supporter of Israel too. I had no idea how brainwashed I was, now I know so much more, the truth!