Biden: 'Palestinians deserve viable state'

By ICEJ News

10 Mar 2010

Visiting US Vice President Joe Biden spent Wednesday in meetings with Palestinian Authority leaders in Ramallah, where he insisted the Palestinians deserve a "viable" state with contiguous territory. Biden’s shuttle to the PA’s seat-of-power came one day after his solidarity mission to Israel hit a sour note when he felt obliged to strongly condemn a poorly timed Israeli announcement of 1,600 new housing starts for haredi Jews in an east Jerusalem neighborhood. Biden warned the sudden blow-up has threatened to “undermine peace efforts" just as the Obama administration had finally convinced PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas to end his 16 month hold-out and enter US-mediated “proximity talks” with Israel. Standing alongside Abbas today, Biden reiterated his condemnation of the Israeli plan and urged both sides to refrain from actions "that inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of talks." PA officials have sp ent the day hurling accusations that the housing announcement shows Israel is not serious about peace.

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