WHITE HOUSE BACKS BIDEN’S CRITICISM OF ISRAEL:

Vice President Joe Biden said Monday night, 18 April 2016, that Israeli PM Netanyahu's government was leading the country "in the wrong direction" hours after a bus bombing in Jerusalem wounded at least 21 people. In a speech to the Israel advocacy group J Street, Biden criticized Palestinian leaders, but saved his harshest words for Israeli officials. Biden expressed what he called the Obama administration’s "overwhelming frustration” with Israel. "The present course Israel’s on is not one that’s likely to secure its existence as a Jewish, democratic state – and we have to make sure that happens,” Biden said, before going on to criticize Israel over a host of issues. Despite a partial freeze on construction in Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria, Biden attacked Israeli actions over the Green Line and also openly expressed the hope that the Israeli left win back control of the Knesset. Biden did single out Palestinian leaders, including Mahmoud Abbas, for declining to condemn specific acts of terrorism carried out against Israelis. The White House on Tuesday, 19 April, backed the harsh remarks against Israel made by Vice President Joe Biden (Fox/INN)