Israel rebuffs Biden by announcing new settlement construction
Vice President Joe Biden condemned an Israeli plan to build hundreds of homes in disputed east Jerusalem on Tuesday — a disagreement that tarnished a high-profile visit that had been aimed at repairing ties with the Jewish state and kickstarting Mideast peace talks.
Hours after the arrival Tuesday of Vice President Joe Biden to help launch indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Israel announced the construction of 1,600 homes in a settlement block in mostly Arab East Jerusalem, an open rebuff that led Biden to issue a sharply worded condemnation.
“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem ,” Biden said in a statement issued by the White House .
“The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel .”
The announcement by the Israeli Interior Ministry came during Biden’s first day in the region, the highest profile visit by an Obama administration official. It appeared to catch the administration off guard.President Barack Obama repeatedly had demanded a halt in settlement construction in order to revive the moribund peace negotiations.
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Please Israel… build more, many many many more of these settlements. I applaud Israel for sticking it in the eye of the terrorist coddler…and on the DAY he sends his #1 boob Biden over to talk.
I heard this yesterday on the radio: ““The Obama Administration these days provokes little confidence in its allies, and even less fear in its adversaries.”
Obama’s Whitehouse = Washington branch of Hammas
God bless BiBi!!
I was listening to this on the radio last night and cringed. Not a good thing to hear when trying to sleep. The clowns are scorching our beautiful earth.
No nation has any business condemning Israel for developing land in their own country.
Ha! Israel has reason not to trust or rely upon Washington with obama as head of state. I wonder what idiotic remarks Joe the gaff machine will make before he leaves Israel.
Jan, I agree, it is upsetting and then to hear it when trying to go to sleep augh!!!!
BobF. your right, there is a line that should not be crossed with this and Obama and Biden just keep crossing it all the time with Israel.
Tom, good one, hahaha yes I wonder too. He just can’t stop messing up.