Joseph Biden

Saudi Arabia on Monday called Israel's newest announcement of Jewish settlement expansions an example of its "recklessness" and welcomed Washington's tough response to the move, Agence France Presse reported. "This is another example of the recklessness of Israeli policy, and its willingness to interrupt any Arab and international effort to achieve peace," Foreign Minster Prince Saud Al Faisal told Al Riyadh newspaper. "We welcome the clear international condemnation of this action, especially by the United States.

The kingdom reiterates its call for the international community to stand firm in the face of all Israeli practices aimed at undermining the chances for peace, and move quickly to stop all work and provocative practices and the siege of the Palestinian people.   -Catherine Ashton

 

Republican lawmakers came out swinging Monday against President Barack Obama's hard line toward Israel over its controversial plans to expand a settlement in disputed east Jerusalem. The number two Republican in the House of Representatives deplored the Obama administration's stance on Israel as "irresponsible" a week after Israel gave the green light to build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in the area the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state. Vice President Joe Biden, ...

it's hard to see how spending a weekend condemning Israel for a zoning decision in its capital city amounts to a positive step towards peace.   -Sam Brownback

 

"Construction will continue in Jerusalem as has been the case over the past 42 years," Netanyahu told members of his Likud party. The United States, meanwhile, pressed Israel to cancel plans to build 1,600 housing units for Jews in the Arab section of East Jerusalem, which it announced during US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the country last week. Speaking on condition of anonymity, Obama administration officials said whatever Israel does must be a significant step to restore confidence and move peace efforts ahead.

The current friction in US-Israel relations has one source: the mishandling of those relations by the Obama administration   -Elliot Abrams

 

BRIC" is modern economic-speak for Brazil, Russia, India and China as the coming global economic power bloc. It is flawed shorthand since, apart from their economic ascendancy, none of these countries has much in common. Indeed there is a good argument that Russia, with its shambolic approach to foreign investment and free markets, does not deserve to be counted with the other three.  

The rather extraordinary dust-up between the U.S. and Israel has, among other benefits, shined a light on two of the most taboo yet self-evidently true propositions: (1) our joined-at-the-hip relationship with Israel is a significant cause of anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world, fuels attacks on Americans, and entails a very high price for the U.S. on multiple levels; and (2) many American neoconservatives have their political beliefs shaped by allegiance to Israel. As for the first: not ...

There are important and powerful lobbies in America: the NRA, the American Medical Association, the lawyers -- and the Israeli lobby. But no lobby is as important, or as powerful, as the U.S. military.   -Mark Perry

 

BINNIE GOES ON RADIO. He's already aired five television ads, and tomorrow, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Binnie will begin airing his first radio ad, targeting the Democratic health care plan and offering a pledge. Binnie campaign manager Bryan Lanza said the "significant, statewide buy" will continue until health care reform is voted on by the Congress, possibly later this week.

The whole reason for the gaming bills, which date back to 1996   -Ed Callahan

 

Israel-US. Israel-US ties at 'historic low' "Israel's ambassador to the US has said that relations between the two countries are at their lowest point for 35 years, Israeli media have reported." Netanyahu faces 'moment of truth' after US slams Israel 'insult' "Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to calm the nation after a series of US officials have called last week's announcement to allow Israelis to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem an 'insult' to the US.  

The second-ranking House Republican blasted the Obama administration as "irresponsible" in its dealings with Israel, accusing the White House of trying to curry favor with the Arab world by deriding America's closest ally in the Middle East. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia also declined to condemn Israel for announcing the construction of more settlements while Vice President Joe Biden was on a visit to the country. Many diplomacy experts saw that move as a snub to the Obama administration, ...

While it condemns Israel, the administration continues to ignore a host of Palestinian provocations that undermine prospects for peace in the region   -Eric Cantor

 

Israel's ambassador to the United States was quoted on Monday as saying that U.S.-Israeli relations were in a "crisis of historic proportions" because of a dispute over Jerusalem settlement plans. Here are some milestones in Israel-U.S. relations: 1948 - President Harry Truman becomes the first world leader to recognize the newly-born Israel. 1956 - Furious at Israel's capture of the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt in a campaign with France and Britain, President Dwight Eisenhower ...

betrayed by leaders who cling to power by feeding old hatreds and destroying the good work of others   -George W Bush