BigMick
Player Valuation: £20m
Joe Biden has been answering questions on the Israel - Palestine situation. He said some interesting things. Here are some of them, and I've put a few comments in bold.
"Let's get something straight: until the region says unequivocally they acknowledge the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish state, there will be no peace."
"There is no shift in my commitment to the security of Israel. No shift. Period. What we still need is a two-state solution. It is the only answer."
"I made it clear when I spoke with Palestinian Authority President Abbas: We're going to make sure we are going to provide for security in the West Bank. We renewed the security commitment, as well as the economic commitment to the people in the West Bank."
He said he was committed to putting together a "major package," along with other interested nations, to rebuild in Gaza without allowing Hamas to rebuild its weapons systems.
The US “remains committed to working with the United Nations” in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza and in reconstruction efforts in the enclave.
“We will do this in full partnership with the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, the Authority, in a manner that does not permit Hamas to simply restock its military arsenal,”
He's right: Hamas Can have no part in the rebuilding. After 2014 too much money, plus cement and other building materials, went missing, with the UN either unwilling or unable to do anything about it.
"I also indicated to the Israelis that I thought it was very important that they stop this inter-communal fighting in Jerusalem by extremes on both sides. It has to end."
When asked about his conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden sidestepped the question, saying that "one of the reasons why we were able to get the ceasefire in 11 days is we didn't do what other people have done. I don't talk about what I tell people in private. I don't talk about what we negotiate in private," adding that the 2014 conflict between Israel and Gaza, known as operation Protective Edge, lasted 56 days.
"The prime minister knows my views, but the commitment that was given was immediately kept from the very beginning. I told him what our objective was: There needed to be a ceasefire. And he, in fact, kept his commitment in the time frame in which he said he would."
"I'm praying this ceasefire will hold," Biden said, adding that he takes Netanyahu at his word. "He's never broken his word to me. What I've made clear is that it's essential that the Palestinians on the West Bank be secured and that Abbas be recognised as the leader of the Palestinian people – which he is."
This is an attempt to rehabilitate Abbas and the PA. Not sure the US realise how ordinary Palestinians view them! However, Hamas's attempts to portray themselves as the true representatives of the Palestinian people has to be fought against, as it is completely false.
“I also emphasised what I’ve said throughout this conflict: The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks from Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist groups that have taken the lives of innocent civilians in Israel.”
"Hamas is a terrorist organisation, we've recognised that, but that doesn't mean we should not be in Gaza, rebuilding Gaza for all those innocent people who in fact have been hurt and have been collateral damage."
“I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy. My administration will continue our quiet, relentless diplomacy toward that.”
The president mourned the high civilian death toll, particularly children, from the conflict. “I send my sincere condolences to all the families, Israeli and Palestinian, who have lost loved ones and my hope for a full recovery for the wounded.”
The president stopped short of saying the US would push for Israelis and Palestinians to enter diplomatic talks aimed at a two-state solution as many countries were pushing this week at the UN. The Biden administration has maintained that the sides are currently too far apart for such intensive efforts to be effective and that smaller steps toward that eventual goal of two states are preferred in the interim while unilateral steps by either side should be prevented.
I agree with that final paragraph, that starting talks on a two-state solution would at this time, in the current situation achieve nothing, other than making UN members feel good about themselves -"Look, we've done our bit!"
Quite what those 'smaller steps' that the US would prefer actually are is unclear, given they gave Abbas the green light to cancel the elections - which was surely one of the biggest 'smaller steps'.
"Let's get something straight: until the region says unequivocally they acknowledge the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish state, there will be no peace."
"There is no shift in my commitment to the security of Israel. No shift. Period. What we still need is a two-state solution. It is the only answer."
"I made it clear when I spoke with Palestinian Authority President Abbas: We're going to make sure we are going to provide for security in the West Bank. We renewed the security commitment, as well as the economic commitment to the people in the West Bank."
He said he was committed to putting together a "major package," along with other interested nations, to rebuild in Gaza without allowing Hamas to rebuild its weapons systems.
The US “remains committed to working with the United Nations” in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza and in reconstruction efforts in the enclave.
“We will do this in full partnership with the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, the Authority, in a manner that does not permit Hamas to simply restock its military arsenal,”
He's right: Hamas Can have no part in the rebuilding. After 2014 too much money, plus cement and other building materials, went missing, with the UN either unwilling or unable to do anything about it.
"I also indicated to the Israelis that I thought it was very important that they stop this inter-communal fighting in Jerusalem by extremes on both sides. It has to end."
When asked about his conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden sidestepped the question, saying that "one of the reasons why we were able to get the ceasefire in 11 days is we didn't do what other people have done. I don't talk about what I tell people in private. I don't talk about what we negotiate in private," adding that the 2014 conflict between Israel and Gaza, known as operation Protective Edge, lasted 56 days.
"The prime minister knows my views, but the commitment that was given was immediately kept from the very beginning. I told him what our objective was: There needed to be a ceasefire. And he, in fact, kept his commitment in the time frame in which he said he would."
"I'm praying this ceasefire will hold," Biden said, adding that he takes Netanyahu at his word. "He's never broken his word to me. What I've made clear is that it's essential that the Palestinians on the West Bank be secured and that Abbas be recognised as the leader of the Palestinian people – which he is."
This is an attempt to rehabilitate Abbas and the PA. Not sure the US realise how ordinary Palestinians view them! However, Hamas's attempts to portray themselves as the true representatives of the Palestinian people has to be fought against, as it is completely false.
“I also emphasised what I’ve said throughout this conflict: The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks from Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist groups that have taken the lives of innocent civilians in Israel.”
"Hamas is a terrorist organisation, we've recognised that, but that doesn't mean we should not be in Gaza, rebuilding Gaza for all those innocent people who in fact have been hurt and have been collateral damage."
“I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy. My administration will continue our quiet, relentless diplomacy toward that.”
The president mourned the high civilian death toll, particularly children, from the conflict. “I send my sincere condolences to all the families, Israeli and Palestinian, who have lost loved ones and my hope for a full recovery for the wounded.”
The president stopped short of saying the US would push for Israelis and Palestinians to enter diplomatic talks aimed at a two-state solution as many countries were pushing this week at the UN. The Biden administration has maintained that the sides are currently too far apart for such intensive efforts to be effective and that smaller steps toward that eventual goal of two states are preferred in the interim while unilateral steps by either side should be prevented.
I agree with that final paragraph, that starting talks on a two-state solution would at this time, in the current situation achieve nothing, other than making UN members feel good about themselves -"Look, we've done our bit!"
Quite what those 'smaller steps' that the US would prefer actually are is unclear, given they gave Abbas the green light to cancel the elections - which was surely one of the biggest 'smaller steps'.
