Israel rebuffs Biden by announcing new settlement construction

[laststeamtrain]

Israel rebuffs Biden by announcing new settlement construction
By Sheera Frenkel, McClatchy Newspapers 1 hr 42 mins ago

JERUSALEM — Hours after the arrival Tuesday of Vice President Joe Biden to help launch indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Israel announced the construction of 1,600 homes in a settlement block in mostly Arab East Jerusalem, an open rebuff that led Biden to issue a sharply worded condemnation.

"I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem ," Biden said in a statement issued by the White House .

"The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I've had here in Israel ."

The announcement by the Israeli Interior Ministry came during Biden's first day in the region, the highest profile visit by an Obama administration official. It appeared to catch the administration off guard.

President Barack Obama repeatedly had demanded a halt in settlement construction in order to revive the moribund peace negotiations.

Just hours before the announcement, Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. was "optimistic" that indirect talks would begin a process by which a final peace deal could be reached.

<more>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100309/wl_mcclatchy/3447129

[Beaverhausen]

1. Jesus H. Christ

WTF???

[cali]

2. absolutely despicable

it's reasonable to conclude that the Israeli gov't has no interest in peace and is doing all they can to thwart it.

[Pirate Smile]

3. + 1

[malaise]

4. Good that the White House condemned

it immediately

[ShortnFiery]

6. Yes, but they made this announcement immediately after Biden slobbered all over Israel in a speech,

stating, in effect, "Israel is the USA's best-est buddy EVER!"

Israel PUNKED us again. :(

Israel's present leadership has no respect for the USA.

We're merely "useful idiots" who will NOT EVER stand up to them ... not ever say, "No, you can't do that or there will be strong repercussions."

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.