Biden Arrives In Israel To Talk Billions In Military Aid — And Patch Things Up

[Purveyor]

Source: Washington Post

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Biden’s trip seeks to patch up, again, relations between the Obama White House and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a very public and deeply partisan spat over the Iran nuclear deal last year.

The vice president will meet with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday when the two will work to advance long-running talks between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office over a new multibillion-dollar, 10-year military-aid package.

The trip is also something of a last lap for Biden, who Israelis embrace as having been a stalwart friend during his many years in the Senate and the White House. As for President Obama? Israelis have been more “meh,” a sentiment stoked by Netanyahu’s aggressive opposition to Obama’s Iran deal.

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Israelis are promising nothing of the sort on this visit, where Biden will talk not only military aid and regional stability with Israel but will also sit down with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose young people have unleashed a five-month wave of knife, gun and vehicular attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. On Thursday, Biden will meet King Abdullah II in Jordan.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/biden-arrives-in-israel-to-talk-billions-in-military-aid--and-patch-things-up/2016/03/07/d2dce47a-cec2-11e5-90d3-34c2c42653ac_story.html

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Israel, US In New Row Hours Ahead Of Joe Biden’S Visit

ERUSALEM: The rocky relationship between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a fresh hit on Tuesday over a declined White House invitation hours before Vice-President Joe Biden's arrival.

Netanyahu's decision not to accept an invitation for talks with Obama in Washington later this month "surprised" the White House, which first learned of it through news reports. The Israeli premier's office defended the decision by saying Netanyahu did not want to interfere in US presidential primary elections currently taking place.

Obama and Netanyahu have had a rocky personal relationship, worsened by the Israeli premier's forceful opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, including in a speech to the US Congress. However, the two have sought to set aside their disagreements in recent months and work out a new 10-year defence aid package for Israel as well as demonstrate that the ties between the two traditional allies remain strong.

Biden is due to arrive in Tel Aviv later on Tuesday and hold talks with Netanyahu on Wednesday. He is also scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.

A previous visit by Biden in 2010 was marred by the announcement of a major Israeli settlement project in annexed east Jerusalem. The announcement drew a public scolding from Biden and it soured relations with Washington for months.

His visit this time comes with Obama having acknowledged that there will be no comprehensive agreement between Israelis and Palestinians before he leaves office in January 2017.

more...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Israel-US-in-new-row-hours-ahead-of-Joe-Bidens-visit/articleshow/51312794.cms

[Skwmom]

1. With national debt of 19 Trillion, not including unfunded liabilities, and deficit spending

how can we promise other countries billions in military aid?

[psychmommy]

2. Agreed.

[hack89]

4. Peace treaty obligations in this case

from the Camp David Accords - we give military aid to both Israel and Egypt.

[Skwmom]

9. We give military aid to a lot more than those 2 countries and it is piled onto the national debt.

And when you add on the decades of interests that will be accruing, it is insane.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

5. Don't worry, they'll take it out of our hides.

[restorefreedom]

7. its easy when you soak the middle class and the poor

and screw them out of health care and decent wages.

oh, and not having ethics or a soul helps.

[Mosby]

3. Biden, Peres meet in Jaffa as terrorist kills one, wounds 11 nearby

Biden, Peres meet in Jaffa as terrorist kills one, wounds 11 nearby

US Vice President Joe Biden was at the Peres Center for Peace in Jaffa on Tuesday evening as a Palestinian terrorist was less than a mile away, running along the boardwalk in the city and indiscriminately stabbing anyone he encountered.

"Terror activity against innocent women and children is intolerable," Biden told former president Shimon Peres during their meeting.

The American vice president stressed the United States' "absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to the security of Israel," saying he hopes progress can be made on the peace process and the fight against terror.

Terror activity against innocent women and children is intolerable," Biden told former president Shimon Peres during their meeting.

The American vice president stressed the United States' "absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to the security of Israel," saying he hopes progress can be made on the peace process and the fight against terror.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4776018,00.html

[Attorney in Texas]

6. I'd be interested in talking with Israel after someone other than Netanyahu is sitting at the table

[Agony]

8. Shouldn't be a problem working out a deal among Zionists.

Joe Biden's public statements leave no doubt as to his predisposition in this matter.

"WASHINGTON – Senator Joe Biden, who was chosen by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama to be his running mate in the upcoming US elections, has previously declared himself to be a Zionist. Calling Israel "the single greatest strength America has in the Middle East,"
"Biden presented himself as a friend to Israel, which he referred to as the US' greatest Middle East ally.

"Imagine our circumstance in the world were there no Israel. How many battleships would there be? How many troops would be stationed?" he asked."


Biden in 2007 interview: I am a Zionist
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3586542,00.html

However many of us think that sending 3 billion a year in military aid to Israel is a BAD idea seems unlikely to have any effect in this case given Biden's public statements. As unfamiliar as they may be with most Americans.

[Nihil]

10. So Obama finally starts to "act tough" to Israel then sends Biden over to lick things clean again.

Wonderful.

[Unknown Beatle]

11. If you think this is bad, if Hillary

becomes president, things will get worse. Hillary is a strong Israel supporter.