Vice President Biden Tells Israel at AIPAC: "Show Me"

"Israel has to work for a two state-solution. You're not going to like me saying this, but not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement ... and access to economic opportunity," Vice President Joe Biden told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) today.

Vice President Biden addressed Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyhau as a friend, congratulating him on his second term in office, but also joking about the similarities between the two campaigns:

    I want to congratulate my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu -- and as
    they say in the Senate, he is my friend -- for his victory.  Bibi and
    I have been friends for a long, long time -- too long to mention.  And
    you know the old cliché -- imitation is the sincerest form of
    flattery.  Well, I looked at Likud's website, campaign website --  and
    on behalf of the Obama-Biden administration, I must say I am
    flattered.  (Laughter.)  Take a look at the website.  It looked like
    we were running co-joint campaigns here.  (Laughter.)  And we didn't
    charge Bibi a  thing for it.  (Laughter.)  All kidding aside, a lot of
    you in the audience, and a lot of board members here,  have been my
    friends for a long, long time.

And as a friend he emphasized America's commitment to Israeli security and peace:

    We believe that the results we seek, including a secure Israel at
    peace, can be best achieved by taking a  new direction in our foreign
    policy; by, first and foremost, reestablish America's preeminent
    leadership in the world.  The nation who asserts it leads, but has no
    one following, is not leading.

And later reemphasized:

    That's why from day one of this administration we began to make a
    strong, sustained effort on behalf of  peace.  The President decided
    that we must be engaged; we must take risk on behalf of peace for
    Israel.   The President appointed one of our most tenacious diplomats
    to lead that effort, George Mitchell, and the President is strongly
    and personally committed to achieving what all have basically said is
    needed -- a two state solution, with a secure Jewish state of Israel
    living side by side in peace and security with a viable and
    independent Palestinian state.  (Applause.)    He and I both believe
    that it's absolutely necessary to ensure Israel's survival as a Jewish
    democratic state that this occur.  (Applause.)  That is also the
    solution that Israel and the Palestinians committed to in the  road
    map and reaffirmed in Annapolis.  It can be achieved.  It must be
    achieved.

And reemphasized:

    Our commitment is unshakeable.  We will continue to provide Israel
    with the assistance that it needs. We will continue to defend
    Israel's right to defend itself and make its own judgments about what
    it needs to do to.

But, as a friend, he also called on Israelis and Palestinians to uphold their own commitments:

    Secondly, all of us have obligations to meet, including commitments
    Israel and the Palestinians made in the  road map.  The Palestinian
    Authority must combat terror and incitement against Israel.  The
    United States  and its partners have provided funding and training for
    a reformed Palestinian security force, which has  impressed everyone,
    including the Israeli security officers with its recent demonstrations
    of professionalism  and effectiveness.  We are right now seeking funds
    from Congress to expand this program.

And especially addressed his friend Binyamin Netanyahu and the new government he heads, and said, "show me":

    But Israel has  to work towards a two-state solution.  You're not
    going to like my saying this, but not build more  settlements,
    dismantle existing outposts, and allow the Palestinians freedom of
    movement based on their  first actions -- (applause) -- its access to
    economic opportunity and increased security responsibility.  This  is
    a "show me" deal -- not based on faith -- show me.  Prime Minister
    Netanyahu has important ideas about  how to achieve some of these
    objectives and we look forward to working with him to help develop
    them  when he comes to visit.

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