Joe Biden finds himself in middle of a kerfuffle with the Israelis. Ha’aretz has reported that Biden told Israeli leaders that it would have to get used to a nuclear Iran. Hot Air has more, including the possibility that this incident took place three years ago. (More here.)
Still what’s interesting is the campaign’s response:
Biden spox David Wade said the unsourced report is simply false.
“This is a lie peddled by partisan opponents of Senators Obama and Biden,” said Wade, “and we will not tolerate anyone questioning Senator Biden’s 35-year record of standing up for the security of Israel. Joe Biden’s first trip as a Senator was to Israel, he has worked with every Israeli leader from Golda Meir to Prime Minister Olmert, and he takes a back seat to no one when it comes to protecting the relationship between Israel and the US.”
The source of Biden’s remarks would seem to be senior Israeli officials. So then instead of trying to smooth things over with officials of an ally and explaining that he was misunderstood, the Biden camp attacked.
Either it’s because there are elements in the Israeli government who are openly opposed to the Democratic ticket and Biden is addressing them or he is reflecting a general mistrust of Israel that is part of the Democratic team. This is not a good sign.
(via memeorandum)
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
I wouldn’t make too much of this. Biden’s record on Israel has been good and the idea that an Israeli official might shoot his mouth off if he’s off the record, without having anything much behind his words, is regrettably not beyond the realm of possibility.