05 May 2009
Biden Urges Israel to End Settlements, Back Two-State Solution
Washington — The status quo that has existed in the Middle East over the past 10 years has not served the interests of the United States or Israel, Vice President Biden told U.S. supporters of Israel.
There are obligations to be met by all parties to bring peace efforts to a successful conclusion, Biden said, and those include the Palestinian Authority’s fight against terror and incitement against Israel, and Israel’s work toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians and an end to its building of settlements.
“This is a ‘show me’ deal, not based on faith; show me,” Biden said May 5 at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington.
“Israel has to work towards a two-state solution. You're not going to like my saying this, but [don’t] build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts, and allow the Palestinians freedom of movement based on their first actions.”
The U.S. commitment to Israel’s peace and security is “not negotiable” and “not a matter of change” under the Obama administration, Biden said. The “basic responsibility” of the United States is to ensure “that there will always, always be a place for Jews of the world to go … and that place always must be Israel.”
The United States is working to build stability in the region by ending the war in Iraq and refocusing its efforts on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and “by engaging all countries in the region, including those with whom we have overwhelming disagreements, in order to advance our national security interests.”
The vice president said the United States will pursue “direct, principled diplomacy with Iran, with the overriding goal of preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons,” which he said would risk an arms race in the region “that would make every country less secure.”
The United States has approached Iran in the spirit of mutual respect, offering Iran a path “to take its rightful place in the community of nations, politically and economically,” Biden said. But if engagement is unsuccessful, “we have greater international support to consider other options.”
Iran has played a dangerous role in the Middle East by supporting organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and undermining other entities in the region. Iran has been able to exploit the conflict to its advantage, Biden said.
The continuation of the conflict between Israel, the Palestinians and Israel’s Arab neighbors provides Iran with “a playing field to extend its influence, sponsor extremist elements, [and] inflame public opinion.”
Biden said Russia, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union, collectively known as the Quartet, must support the Palestinian Authority with funding and tools to help it govern the West Bank and assist Palestinians in Gaza.
He said the training provided by the United States and its partners to a reformed Palestinian security force “has impressed everyone, including the Israeli security officers, with its recent demonstrations of professionalism and effectiveness,” and the Obama administration is seeking further funding from Congress to expand the program.
Biden called on Arab states to build on the 2002 Arab peace initiative and “make meaningful gestures to show the Israeli leadership and the people that the promise of ending Israel's isolation in the region is real and genuine.”
Hamas, which controls Gaza, can achieve legitimacy only when it renounces violence, recognizes Israel’s existence and agrees to abide by previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements, Biden said. “These are not unreasonable demands; they're basic standards of international conduct.”
Biden also demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Hamas since 2006.
The vice president also said the United States will explore opportunities for peace between Israel and Syria, which he said could “reshape the region,” but cannot come at the expense of Israel’s security or Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.
“We understand the immensity of the challenge … [and] the hard choices that must be made,” Biden said. But he said the path that has been pursued in recent years will not bring Israel or the Palestinians peace or security, nor provide the region with the stability and progress it needs.
A transcript of Biden's remarks is available on America.gov.
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