VP Biden Calls for Israel to Back Two-State SolutionYesterday, Vice President Joe Biden told attendees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference in Washington that Israel must work towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
"Israel has to work toward a two-state solution," Biden said to the 5,000 delegates. "You're not going to like my saying this, but not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow the Palestinians freedom of movement."
He outlined concrete measures, such as freezing settlement activity, to lay a more positive groundwork for negotiations. This is being hailed by some as a tough new American approach against Israel.
Biden still reaffirmed the government's view that Israel’s security as "non-negotiable." The crowd applauded his statement that Israel had the right "to make its own judgment about what it needs to do to defend itself," ultimately.
The Vice President repeated what has become a talking point among Obama administration officials: the need for Israel to help buttress Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as an alternative to Hamas.
Today, perhaps coincidentally, Israel announced it will allow Palestinians access to a street in the flashpoint city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank for the first time in five years.
At AIPAC's conference, Biden also emphasized that the U.S. expected Arab countries “to do their part” to help Abbas and to reach out to Israel to improve the chances for reaching a peace deal. "The Arab states should act now, not later," he said.
It was just reported that Arab states are revising their 2002 peace initiative to win Israel backing for two states; the Palestinian one would be demilitarized. The most difficult modifications will be to temper demands for the right of return.
Some doubt whether this overture will be effective. Interior Minister Eli Yishai questioned the Arab world's ability to advance new peace talks: "Just today three mortar shells landed in Israel. Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia cannot vouch for a settled-down Gaza Strip."
Senator Kerry Blames the Arab States, Calls for Normalization.
Senator John Kerry, Biden's replacement as the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made more specific demands on the Arab states when he addressed AIPAC.
Arab states must start "treating Israel like a normal country, ending the boycott, letting El Al (airline) fly over their countries and meeting Israel leaders," he told the crowd. He attributed the breakdown in peace talks in 2000 on the "lack of support from Arab states."
Kerry acknowledged a shift among Arab states. He said they now embrace the idea of land-for-peace and are also allying against Iran.
Syria and Iran Back Palestinian Resistance
During the AIPAC meeting, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran traveled to Damascus to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. He also spent time with the leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian groups based in Syria.
This meeting comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to position itself to deal with the Iranian regime and the prospect of it obtaining nuclear weaponry. With the growth of Iranian influence in the region, America walks a tightrope, trying to pursue its interests, while balancing those of its Arab allies and Israel.At the same time, the United States needs good relations with Iran, according to Ahmadinejad. "Those who one day called Iran and Syria part of 'the axis of evil' now want to develop relations with Iran and Syria," he said.
He argued the Syria-Iran alliance was effective in preventing "the big powers' offensive to dominate the region."
"Syria and Iran have been from the very beginning united and in agreement to stand on the side of the Palestinian resistance," Mr. Ahmadinejad said, adding, "We see that the resistance will continue until all occupied territories are liberated."
Good Cop, Bad Cop
In his tour of European capitals, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told his Italian counterpart that the "peace industry" was a wasteful, corrupt exercise. "This is a process with no results," Lieberman said. "Everyone is earning a living off of it. There are conferences and there are meetings in five-star hotels. Do you know how much money has been spent on this? And what has come of it?"
According to Ha'aretz,
The Israeli foreign minister was pessimistic about the prospects of establishing a Palestinian state. He repeated his assertion that "two states for two peoples" had become a clichéd slogan that was tailored for newspaper headlines.Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres denied there was any distance between American and Israeli positions after meeting with President Barack Obama. Obama said protecting Israel's security a "top priority" for the US when welcoming the first Israeli leader to visit his White House on Tuesday. Peres told reporters that "there is no space between us and the United States."
HEADLINES
Blair: Quartet to unveil new Mideast peace plan (Ha'aretz)
Obama meets Peres as US pushes two-state solution (AFP)
Israeli president: US outreach to Iran OK for now (The Associated Press)
Israeli PM says ready for peace talks with Palestinians (Xinhua)
Palestine and the Palestinians
PA fears for Jerusalem's Silwan residents (Ynetnews)
Palestinian Today 050509 (IMEMC)
Trembling before the pope (Ha'aretz)
PA, Hamas reject PM's overtures in DC (Jerusalem Post)
The Neighbors
Hamas feels the heat from Syria (Asia Times Online)
International Relations/Law
UN rights watchdog questions Israel on torture (Washington Post)
UN rights experts seek access to Israeli prison (AFP)
Palestinian HR groups want 2004 military ops in Gaza probed (Ynetnews)
Video: Ban Ki-moon's Gaza reaction 'disappointing' (Al Jazeera)
UN chief asks Quartet to play larger role in Israeli-Palestinian peace process (Xinhua)
Iranian president to meet Palestinians in Syria (The Associated Press)
Peres to Obama: No choice but to compare Iran to Nazis (Ha'aretz)
Government to UN: Israeli law prohibits physical interrogations (Jerusalem Post)
Arts and Activism
Protesters greet Lieberman in Paris (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Misc.
Palestinian players defy odds for love of the game (Winnipeg Sun)
Palestine soccer coach faces hurdles ahead of game (The Canadian Press)
Italy wants Israel and Palestinians in Mediterranean event (guardian.co.uk)
Commentary
Joseph Algazy and Dominique Vidal: Hostage to Israel's far right (Le Monde diplomatique)
Biden prods Israel at AIPAC conference (The CNN Wire)
Neve Gordon: Israeli activist to be jailed for caring (guardian.co.uk)
Stuart Whatley: Obama Administration Takes Stronger Line With Israel (The Huffington Post)
Netanyahu, listen to Obama (Ha'aretz)
Ghassan Khatib: Netanyahu is throwing obstacles in the way of peace (Israel Policy Forum)
Joseph Algazy: The forgotten Bedouin (Le Monde diplomatique)
Steve Weissman: Obama Faces Israel's Angst (t r u t h o u t)
Jeremy Hammond: Hamas Leader Reiterates Goal of Palestinian State Neighboring Israel (Foreign Policy Journal)
Netanyahu Prefers Peace Negotiations with Syria to Palestinian track (Israel Policy Forum)
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