US Vice President Joe Biden is to address a gathering of politically active members of the American Jewish community next month, where he is expected to discuss the US-Israel relationship amid rising tensions between the two governments over settlement activity.
The Jewish Federations of North America plans to host the vice president for its 2014 general assembly along with several other prominent speakers, including Supreme Court justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan and US Ambassador Ron Dermer.
The speech, on November 10, comes as the US expressed “unequivocal opposition” to new housing construction in east Jerusalem on Monday, calling the move – reportedly approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – “incompatible” with the Middle East peace process.
The Obama administration in the past week denied meetings to visiting Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon with State Department and White House officials, including a specific request from the minister to meet with Biden.
JFNA members said the group hopes attendees will address the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, the state of Jewish life on American college campuses and rising anti-Semitic attitudes worldwide.
The federation expects members from 124 countries to attend, to begin in National Harbor, Maryland, on November 9.