The Palestinian prime minister said in an interview Thursday that the Biden administration must now “walk the walk” and take specific steps toward what has been an elusive two-state solution, including by applying pressure on Israel. Mohammed Shtayyeh spoke to The Associated Press as U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met in Tel Aviv with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the course of the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month. Gallant said Israel’s aim of destroying Hamas will take several more months.
Here’s what’s happening in the war:
Quick Read
- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, in an interview with The Associated Press, urged the Biden administration to take concrete actions towards achieving a two-state solution. This call for action comes as U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan meets with Israeli officials to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
- Shtayyeh emphasized the need for the United States to apply pressure on Israel to facilitate the move towards a two-state solution, a stance that contrasts with Israel’s current position under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has dismissed the involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
- The Biden administration’s stance has been to support Israel in the conflict while facing international calls for an immediate ceasefire. The U.S. vision includes a unified Palestinian leadership in both the West Bank and Gaza as a step towards Palestinian statehood.
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, during discussions with Sullivan, mentioned that Israel’s objective of dismantling Hamas in Gaza could take several more months.
- Sullivan is scheduled to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to discuss various issues, including promoting stability in the West Bank, supporting Palestinian Authority Security Forces, and confronting terrorism.
- The U.N. food agency highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a large portion of the population facing starvation and calling for more access for aid delivery.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden, suggested that a ceasefire in Gaza could be achieved if the U.S. withdrew its unconditional support for Israel.
- Communication services in Gaza have been severely disrupted due to the ongoing conflict, further isolating the region.
The Associated Press has the story:
Palestinian PM urges Biden admin to take steps toward 2-state solution
Newslooks- RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP)
The Palestinian prime minister said in an interview Thursday that the Biden administration must now “walk the walk” and take specific steps toward what has been an elusive two-state solution, including by applying pressure on Israel.
Mohammed Shtayyeh spoke to The Associated Press as U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met in Tel Aviv with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the course of the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month. Gallant said Israel’s aim of destroying Hamas will take several more months.
“Now that the United States has talked the talk, we want Washington to walk the walk, meaning that we need specific measures to implement the two-state solution, not only believe in the two-state solution,” Shtayyeh said in an AP interview Thursday.
The United States has shielded Israel against growing international calls for an immediate cease-fire, but is publicly disagreeing with its close ally on a post-war scenario.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday: “We are continuing until the end, there is no question. I say this even given the great pain and the international pressure. Nothing will stop us.”
Heavy fighting has raged for days in Shijaiyah and other areas in and around eastern Gaza City that were encircled earlier in the war. Tens of thousands of people remain in the north despite repeated evacuation orders, saying they don’t feel that anywhere in Gaza is safe or fear they may never return to their homes.
Israel has drawn international outrage and rare criticism from the United States over the killing of civilians. More than 18,400 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel says 113 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking about 240 hostages.
The Palestinian prime minister said in an interview Thursday that the Biden administration must now “walk the walk” and take specific steps toward what has been an elusive two-state solution, including by applying pressure on Israel.
Mohammed Shtayyeh spoke as U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met in Tel Aviv with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the course of the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month. Gallant said Israel’s aim of destroying Hamas will take several more months.
The United States has shielded Israel against growing international calls for an immediate cease-fire, but is publicly disagreeing with its close ally on a post-war scenario.
Washington eventually wants to see the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza under a unified Palestinian leadership, as a precursor to Palestinian statehood. Israel’s right-ing government opposes Palestinian statehood and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects any role in Gaza for the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, a West Bank-based autonomy government.
Shtayyeh said Thursday that it’s time for the United States to deal more firmly with Israel.
“Now that the United States has talked the talk, we want Washington to walk the walk, meaning that we need specific measures to implement the two-state solution, not only believe in the two-state solution,” he said in an interview.
He said it’s time for the Biden administration to shift its policy from “carrots to Israel to non-carrots.”
Sullivan is to meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER WILL MEET WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Ramallah tomorrow to meet with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, according to a Biden administration official.
The official said Sullivan and Abbas will discuss ongoing efforts to promote stability in the West Bank, including through efforts to confront terrorism, support for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces through the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, ongoing efforts to revamp and revitalize the Palestinian Authority, and initiatives to hold extremist settlers accountable for violence against Palestinians.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the yet-to-be formally announced visit.
Currently:
— A missile fired from rebel-controlled Yemen misses a container ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
— A wartime Palestinian poll shows a surge in Hamas support.
— Biden reassures families he’s committed to freeing American hostages held in Gaza.
— Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
