BICOM

US Vice President Joe Biden yesterday addressed the annual gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), covering a wide range of issues.

Biden, who visited Israel earlier this month, assured that a new ten-year American military aid package to Israel currently under negotiation “will, without a doubt, be the most generous security assistance package in the history of the United States.” Biden also said that Washington “will always have Israel’s back” when attempts are made to boycott or isolate Israel.

Addressing the wider regional geopolitical situation, Biden emphasised that there is a “thawing of ties” between Israel and some of its Sunni Arab neighbours. He recalled that “One of Arab leaders told me his country has no greater military ally than Israel.” Several Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have highlighted growing ties with Sunni Arab states, coalescing around common concerns, especially Iran’s regional ambitions. Biden too underscored the point, saying “Iran’s behaviour destabilizes the region but it also creates an opportunity to operate beyond the Israeli-Arab divide.”

However, Biden defended July’s deal over Iran’s nuclear programme, which Israel’s government opposed. He pledged that “Under this agreement, Iran will never be allowed to pursue nuclear weapons — never, never, never.” He added, “If Iran violates the deal, the United States will act.”

Biden also noted with disappointment that “there is no political will among Israelis or Palestinians to move forward with negotiations” towards a peace agreement. He took aim at Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, saying “No leader has the right to tolerate terrorism… The terrorism has to stop, the incitement… it must stop.” However, he also added that “the Israeli government’s steady process of expanding settlements and expropriating land is eroding the possibility of a two-state solution.”

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich are to address AIPAC today. Israel’s opposition leader Isaac Herzog will also speak at the event, while Prime Minister Netanyahu will deliver an address via satellite tomorrow.