Tuesday, July 18, 2023

White House: Biden expressed concern to Netanyahu about continued settlement growth

The White House on Monday released a statement summarizing US President Joe Biden’s conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which it said that Biden, among other things, expressed concerns over Israeli “settlement expansion”

The statement said that Biden and Netanyahu discuss “a broad range of global and regional issues of mutual concern.”

“The President underscored his iron-clad, unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and condemned recent acts of terror against Israeli citizens. The two consulted on our close coordination to counter Iran, including through regular and ongoing joint military exercises. They noted that U.S.-Israel partnership remains a cornerstone in preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon,” the statement continued.

It further said that Biden “stressed the need to take measures to maintain the viability of a two-state solution and improve the security situation in the West Bank. To that end, he welcomed Israel’s willingness to consider new steps to support Palestinian livelihoods, and recognized promising steps by the Palestinian Authority to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank.” READ MORE