The White House on Tuesday defended Vice President Joe Biden’s remarks that the U.S government has an “overwhelming frustration” with the Israeli government.
Biden roiled Jewish leaders with the comments he made Monday night while addressing the J Street lobby group in Washington. But White House press secretary Josh Earnest rejected the idea that Biden had alienated Israel, the United States’ closest ally, with the remarks.
“What is true is this administration, particularly Secretary [of State] Kerry and President Obama, have all expended significant time and resources … to find a two-state solution,” he said. “That is a policy that American presidents in both parties have pursued, and none have pursued it more aggressively than this administration.”
Earnest said Kerry was a frequent visitor to the region in repeated attempts to bring all sides to the negotiating table and “yield a constructive result.”
“That didn’t materialize and that is a source of significant frustration,” he said.
In his comments Monday night, Biden also said the expansion of Jewish settlements is moving Israel toward a dangerous “one-state reality.” He said despite disagreements over these settlements and the Iran nuclear deal, the United States has an obligation to try to press Israel for a two-state solution.
“We have an overwhelming obligation, notwithstanding our sometimes overwhelming frustration with the Israeli government, to push them as hard as we can toward what they know in their gut is the only ultimate solution, a two-state solution, while at the same time be an absolute guarantor of their security,” Biden said.
