From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Biden says he had a ‘long’ and ‘fruitful’ meeting with Netanyahu
US Vice President Joe Biden describes his working meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “fruitful,” calling the relationship between Israel and the United States “unshakable.”
Speaking during a press conference with President Reuven Rivlin at his official residence in Jerusalem, Biden says he has just finished “a meeting with the prime minister – a long meeting which started at 10 o’clock, a fruitful meeting – and I touched on a broad range of issues where Israel and the United States stand shoulder to shoulder. America’s commitment to Israel is absolutely unshakable, it is unquestionable.”
In an apparent reference to the widely reported rift between the White House and Jerusalem, Biden says the disagreements do not bring into question the US’s commitment to Israel’s security.
“Like brothers we will disagree, sometimes disagree really strongly about what path should be taken. But never, never, never, over the 40 years I have been doing this, or since the State of Israel was established, have we disagreed on the principle that there is an absolute, unyielding necessity for all world Jewry for there to be an independent Jewish state called Israel. That is our commitment and that rests on this grand state being able to be secure.” he says.
But, according to Biden, Israel’s long term security will be challenged in the absence of a two-state solution.
“Ultimately, a peace that leads to a state where there are two peoples is still the surest path to a prosperous future for all the people here – a two-state solution. A strong and secure Israel is very much in the interests of the United States,” he concludes.
The Times of Israel Community.