White House backs Biden’s criticism of Israel

The White House on Tuesday backed the harsh remarks against Israel made by Vice President Joe Biden a day earlier.

 

Biden, who addressed the J Street conference in Washington, expressed what he called the Obama administration’s “overwhelming frustration” with Israel.

 

“The present course Israel’s on is not one that’s likely to secure its existence as a Jewish, democratic state – and we have to make sure that happens,” Biden said, before going on to criticize Israel over a host of issues.

 

Despite a partial freeze on construction in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Biden attacked Israeli actions over the Green Line and also openly expressed the hope that the Israeli left win back control of the Knesset.

 

Asked Tuesday about Biden’s comments, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, “I think what is true is that this administration, particularly Secretary Kerry and Vice President Biden and President Obama, have all expended significant time and energy and resources to facilitating conversations between the Israelis and Palestinians to find a two-state solution. That is a policy that American Presidents in both parties have pursued, and none have pursued it more aggressively than this administration.”

 

“There certainly is frustration with both sides that we have encountered,” continued Earnest, “but we’ve also been clear that — and this is what Vice President Biden I think is ultimately talking about here — the United States has long supported the idea of a two-state solution because it has a potential to resolve one of the most combustible flashpoints in an already volatile region of the world.  But it also happens to be in the clear strategic interest of our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel.”

 

Read More: White House backs Biden’s criticism of Israel – Middle East – News – Arutz Sheva