While US Vice President Joe Biden is busy running from one meeting to the next, his wife Jill spent Tuesday evening touring Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife Sara.
The Israeli host told Biden that "peace starts from within". The two visited the YMCA center in the city and Netanyahu said to Biden, "Peace begins with education, here is an excellent example of living side-by-side, Jews and Arabs in tolerance and on the path of peace."
The two were accompanied by the wives of Israel's ambassador to the US and the American ambassador to Israel.
Jill Biden (L) with Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO)
Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu held a private meeting
earlier Tuesday. Upon his arrival, Biden signed the guest book at the prime minister's residence and wrote: "You were half right about our personal paths. Israel is lucky to have you and I am fortunate to have you as a friend."
Netanyahu said in response, "Israel is lucky to have you, and I am glad to have you as a friend."
The two went on to discuss the peace process and proximity talks with the Palestinians. Biden stressed that painful concessions would be necessary. He said, "The United States will always stand with those who take risks for peace," and added that the proximity talks will start the peace process, but certainly not end it.
Earlier, Biden met with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the President's Residence. Regarding the Iranian nuclear threat, Biden assured Peres that Iran is more isolated than ever
before. According to the vice president, "Since our administration came to power, I would point out that Iran is more isolated - internally, externally - has fewer friends in the world."
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