Joe Biden's speech here at the AIPAC Policy Conference this morning was more feel good, less "real talk" than John Kerry's. He began by quoting Barack Obama's words on his youthful attraction to Israel: "I deeply understood the Zionist idea that there is always a homeland at the center of our story." Beautiful words. Like Kerry, though, Biden did talk about the necessity of a two-state solution and an end to Israeli settlement activity. "This is a show-me deal. Not based on faith -- show me," he said. Most interestingly, Biden several times emphasized the diversity of opinion among Americans, Israelis, and Jews on how to move forward. President Obama has met with Israeli leaders "across the spectrum," he said, "and you all know it's a very wide spectrum in Israel." Later on, Biden referenced that even among AIPAC attendees and Israel supporters in Washington, there is disagreement. "Look we know there are different views in this room," he said. "We know there are different views in this town on how to move forward. Nowhere are these views debated more openly and vividly than in the streets of Israel and in the Knesset, which is an overwhelming tribute to Israel's democracy." --Dana Goldstein
