FP Morning Brief 3/9

Biden: "No space" between U.S. and Israel

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Top story: Vice President Joe Biden is on yet another reassurance mission, this time to Israel where he assured leaders today that the United States is committed to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. There is absolutely no space between the United States and Israel in terms of Israel’s security. None,” Biden said in a press conference with President Shimon Peres.

Biden's visit comes after envoy George Mitchell's announcement on Monday that Palestinian negotiators had agreed to resume indirect talks next week -- the first peace talks between the two sides in more than a year. Also on Monday, Israel approved construction of 112 new apartments in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit, despite a 10-month construction moratorium.

Biden said he hoped the talks could help "allay that layer of mistrust" between the two sides.

"The United States will always stand with those who take risks for peace," Biden said at a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "You're prepared to do that."

Mystery solved: Police have found the missing body of Cyprus' former president, three months after it was stolen.

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Africa The toll for Nigeria's weekend of religious violence has risen to 500. Uganda plans to resettle 500,000 people whose homes are at risk of mudslides. Riot police blocked Togo's opposition leader from attending demonstrations in Lome. Middle East Turkey has agreed to mediate upcoming talks between Syria and Israel. Yemen's president offered to hold talks with Southern separatists. Israel announced plans to develop nuclear power. Asia Visiting Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that recent offensives in the South of the country have begun to gain momentum. South Korea believes that North Korea has recently developed a new medium range missile division. Indonesian security forces killed three terrorism suspects in a raid. Europe Former U.S. President George W. Bush has stepped in to mediate reconciliation talks in Northern Ireland. The United States and Russia have resumed nuclear arms reduction talks in Geneva. Greece has asked the United States to crack down on financial speculators. Americas Haiti has released all but one of the U.S. missionaries held on kidnapping charges. Haiti's president is heading to the U.S. to discuss aid. A report by the Organization of American State condemned Honduras's post-coup violence.   -By Joshua Keating

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