Biden in Israel: ‘It’s Good to Be Home’

Vice President Joe Biden went a-courtin’ in Israel on Tuesday, meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in an effort to bring the U.S. and Israel closer and “allay that layer of mistrust that has built up in the last several years,” as Biden put it.  —KA

CNN:

“There is absolutely no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to Israel’s security—none at all,” Biden said.

Peres began a long discussion about what the United States should do about Iran and the Middle East peace process. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statements about Israel, he said, were a coverup for the “hegemony” it seeks in the region.

“The United States should lead the Iranian policy,” Peres said. “There is nobody else in the world.”

[...] Peres called Biden a “true friend” of Israel, and Biden said, “It’s good to be home.”

Read more

AP / Ariel Schalit

Israeli President Shimon Peres, left, shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden during their meeting at Peres’ residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday.