"...a huge debate inside the administration about what to do...”

Via Friday-Lunch-Club

{Obama} by Eli Saliba

LR in Politico/ here

Vice President Joe Biden departed from Israel Thursday leaving behind a raging controversy ........ But observers say it’s too soon to tell if the episode will result in Netanyahu’s being any more willing to reduce provocative actions in East Jerusalem that are widely condemned by the U.S. and the rest of the world but that are supported by much of the Israeli public and Netanyahu’s political constituency.

In what was designed as the public capstone of his visit, a speech at Tel Aviv University Thursday, Biden reiterated his criticism of the government’s action, which, he said, “undermined the trust required for productive negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

“Now, some legitimately may have been surprised that such a strong supporter of Israel ... how I can speak out so strongly given the ties that I share, as well as my country shares, with Israel,....... But quite frankly, folks, sometimes only a friend can deliver the hardest truth..... ”

Administration officials said Thursday that while Mitchell is still slated to return to the region next week to try to salvage the proximity talks, there is a “huge debate” inside the administration “about what to do.”

Posted by G, Z, or B at 10:21 AM

River to Sea
 Uprooted Palestinian