US President Joe Biden reiterated this to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Friday: The need for a Palestinian state to be part of the discussions To resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In his press conference, White House spokesman John Kirby stated that Biden spoke to Netanyahu on the phone about the post-war situation in Gaza and underlined the importance of “creating two states with guaranteed security for Israel.” is the main element of the discussions.
This meeting between the two leaders took place later. Netanyahu will express his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state on ThursdayComments that have caused great controversy and are completely at odds with the traditional position held by the United States.
During the meeting, the US president reiterated to Netanyahu his “firm belief” that a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict requires the existence of two states, according to Kirby.
Kirby noted that Biden recognizes that this goal cannot be achieved “tomorrow” and will require “a lot of work” and “a lot of leadership” from both sides, both the Israelis and the Palestinians and their Arab allies. “The President keeps his faith” The promise and possibility of a two-state solution. “He recognizes that this will require effort and leadership and is willing to contribute his work to ultimately achieve this outcome,” the spokesperson said. said.
This was the first phone call between the two leaders in almost a month. The last meeting between the two took place on December 23. The White House assured that the call was not related to comments Netanyahu made at a press conference on Thursday in which he expressed opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a possible post-conflict scenario in Gaza.
Netanyahu also refuses to allow the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, to regain control of the Strip once the Israeli offensive ends..
Both Biden and the European Union (EU) have reiterated their support for a two-state solution on multiple occasions since the beginning of the war in Gaza, and have additionally advocated for the ANP to assume control of the Strip once the conflict ends. After he was expelled from the region in 2007 when Hamas usurped power from him.
Israel and Hamas have been at war since October 7, when a Hamas attack left 1,200 dead and more than 240 hostages. Following this, the Israeli Army launched a powerful attack on Gaza, killing 25,000 people, mostly women and children.
Biden does not believe Netanyahu will make two-state solution impossible
Biden confirmed this Friday that the creation of a Palestinian state is possible even if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in power. Asked if it was “impossible” to create two states to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while Netanyahu was in office, Biden said, “No, it’s not.” “There are various types of two-state solutions (…) So I think there are ways that this could work,” he said.
Reporters asked Biden if he would be open to limiting U.S. military aid to Israel because of comments made by Netanyahu, and the president replied: “I think we can come to an agreement.”