Unlike President Obama, an outsider without a long track record on issues relating to the Middle East, Joe Biden had a reputation in the Senate as one of Israel’s staunchest allies. Last year, during a memorable address at AIPAC’s Annual Policy Conference, Biden had very warm words for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he claimed as an old and dear friend. More broadly, he described his lifelong commitment to the American partnership with Israel, which he traced to a fateful meeting with Golda Meir that occurred shortly before the Yom Kippur War. But then, after offering a deeply moving statement of his Zionist convictions, he gently offered what sounded to some like a rebuke. After insisting that Israel work towards a two-state solution, Biden added, in his wry and conversational style, “you’re not going to like me saying this, but [Israel has to] not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts, and allow the Palestinians freedom of movement based on their first actions.”
The vice president was quick to temper these remarks by insisting that this would be a “show me” deal in which the Palestinians would have to demonstrate their good faith. All the same, Israelis inclined to distrust the Obama administration were concerned, not least because U.S. diplomatic efforts seemed to place a heavier burden on Israel than on neighboring Arab states.
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