Capping a long list of U.S. dignitaries travelling to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Vice President Joe Biden is currently en route to the region for meetings with various officials.
Biden’s visit follows a trip made last year by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and repeated efforts by Special Envoy George Mitchell to get Israeli and Palestinian leaders to the negotiating table.
While in the region, Biden will visit with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, and opposition leader Tzipi Livni. On the Palestinian side, he will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Interestingly enough, Biden will go to the Nasser Stone Factory which the White House calls “an example of a successful Palestinian industry.” Both Fayyad and Netanyahu have trumpeted the Palestinian economy as a majopr challenge and priority. Fayyad launched his institution building plan that includes establishing a viable financial sector while Netanyahu has urged for an economic peace that would supercede, or at least work in parallel to, a political solution to the conflict.
Biden’s trip, as well as stops for his wife, looks somewhat like a Birthright trip as well. The trip includes visits to the grave of Israeli heros Yitzchak Rabin and Theodore Herzl and Masada.
Most importantly (partially because I went there), Biden will give a keynote address at Tel Aviv University on “The Enduring Partnership Between the United States and Israel.”
Who knows what the actual speech will say. In the face of increased tension between Israeli and U.S. leaders and the Israeli population questioning whether President Barack Obama supports the Jewish state, the speech could be a reaffirmation of shared values and mutual goals. Biden could attempt to quell concerns and deliver a message from Obama that the alliance between the two countries transcends other priorities, such as reaching out to the Arab world.
Or, Biden could echo previous comments from administration officials that the U.S. will support Israel, but there are serious concerns that must be addressed. He could pressure Israel to halt settlement activity beyond the limited settlement freeze. He could use U.S. influence to subdue war cries in Israel encouraging a strike on the soon-to-be nuclear Iran. With the U.S. sending an ambassador to Damascus, Biden could encourage Israel to embark on a peace effort with Syria that includes a land swap.
Biden’s message will assuredly shed light onto the complex relationship between the U.S. and Israel that has evolved since Obama and Netanyahu took office. However, with the administrations generally unsuccesful efforts in Israel-Palestine thus far, the real question is whether Biden’s trip can change the status quo, by getting Israeli and Palestinian officials to resume talks.
Further, any pending actions on Iran will assuredly begin to take shape with Biden’s trip and Defense Minister Ehud Barack’s pending visit to the United States.
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