What are we to make of VP Joe Biden’s trip to Israel this week, which just created unexpected controversial headlines, and what are American Jews – who are getting as fed up with this intractable mess as anyone – to do about it?

First the facts, Biden, long praised as a stalwart pro-Israel ally on the Democratic Party front (where there are real problems with the hard Left), nearly had a “broh-affair” with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu upon arrival in Jerusalem. He warmly noted their 30-year friendship and joked that one of them was getting older. Netanyahu, as charismatic in front of American TV cameras as one could imagine, was equally warm in his praise.

Not much later came an announcement by an office of the Israeli government – apparently not pre-approved by Netanyahu – about the building of 1,600 residences for Orthodox Jews in East Jerusalem. Biden wasted no time in bluntly condemning Israel’s move as jeopardizing a peace process whose progress is currently akin to a sparrow flying against a wind tunnel’s directional current. Palestinian leaders – as they are wont to do with such ease – followed their script of being expectedly apoplectic.

(Note: This was a marked contrast to how Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently avoided criticizing Israeli moves from Jerusalem but did not hesitate to do so during her next step, in Cairo. Call Biden many things if you want, but he is no political coward).

U.S. Orthodox Jewish groups slammed the VP for lashing out against an Israeli action in Jerusalem, the Jewish state’s undivided capital. Liberal U.S. Jewish groups applauded.

What should the rest of us do other than shake our heads and remember the food we have to buy at the supermarket tonight (meaning zone out from Israel’s always complex, nuanced reality)?

• First, be pleased that this U.S. administration – which isn’t exactly prancing in the meadows with free time – is keeping the Israeli-Palestinian on the front burner.

• Second, get used to the fact that the Obama administration means it when it says that it values Israel AND isn’t afraid to criticize its specific policies. (I believe that Netanyahu understands that quite well, which is why he seemed genuinely embarrassed.)

• Third, continue to adjust to the fact that Israel is a raucous democracy whose many parts – and an incredibly aggressive press—can act independently of the prime minister’s desires.

• Fourth, we American Jewish groups must continually – both publicly and privately – press Israeli officials here (and when we’re in Israel) on these matters. American Jewish pressure – as Bibi knows well from his 1997 attempt to muck with conversion laws – can matter in Israel under the right conditions.

• Finally, we American Jews must step up our internal dialogue over what this all means. Rather than keep issuing press releases and reports (how many trees can a Jewish organization kill in a year?), we must have vigorous, DECENT ongoing conversation in our own communities amongst Israel activists, which can in turn spawn broader pro-Israel activities instead of the piecemeal approach we currently adore.

What do you make of Biden’s actions? Please respond here: http://blogs.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/neilrubin/joe_bidens_israel_problem/

common
the most obvious points you didn’t write.

1. THE CURRENT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUSLY MORONIC.

2. EVEN THOUGH JB VISITED ISRAEL - OBAMA DIDN’T YET.
BARACK DID HOWEVER FIND TIME TO SANDWICHED ISRAEL IN HIS VISITS TO EGYPT AND TURKEY

Joel, in part I think Secretary Clinton’s response was part of an ungelled Obama administration response. They seem to be on message now, and I’m guessing she won’t show such inconsistency again.

Neil,

Well-written article, I mostly agree with your points, and appreciate the stand that Joe Biden took on the settlements in East Jerusalem.  The Israeli decision to announce these settlements concurrent with a visit by the American Vice-President and an invitation to the Palestinians to restart discussions completely confounds me.

I did find your dig at Secretary Clinton unnecessary and tired.  Secretary Clinton represents the Obama administration, and, no doubt, the timing of her pronouncements is driven by her leadership.