Biden says Netanyahu not against all two-state options for Palestinians

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday mentioned he spoke with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu about attainable options for creation of an impartial Palestinian state, suggesting one path may contain a non-militarized authorities.

Biden’s name with Netanyahu was the primary in almost a month, the White Home mentioned, noting the discussions targeted on Israel’s ongoing strikes in Gaza.

White Home spokesperson John Kirby informed reporters that Biden had been making an attempt to schedule the decision “for fairly a little bit of time” and denied it got here in response to Netanyahu’s touch upon Thursday saying he objected to Palestinian statehood that didn’t assure Israel’s safety.

Requested if a two-state resolution was inconceivable whereas Netanyahu was nonetheless in workplace, Biden mentioned, “No, it is not.”

Talking to reporters after a gathering with U.S. mayors, Biden mentioned Netanyahu was not against all two-state options, and there have been plenty of varieties attainable, noting that some United Nations members would not have navy forces.

Biden was requested if he would rethink situations on Israel support given Netanyahu’s feedback rejecting a two-state resolution.

“I believe we’ll be capable of work one thing out … I believe there’s methods wherein this might work,” he mentioned.

Biden and Netanyahu additionally mentioned efforts to safe the remaining hostages held by Hamas, and Israel’s shift to extra “focused” operations in Gaza to permit extra humanitarian help to come back by, the White Home mentioned.

Biden has been pressuring Israel to cut back Palestinian deaths at the same time as he has maintained his robust help of Israel in its battle in opposition to Hamas.

However the two males don’t see eye-to-eye on Palestinians having a state, an answer Biden has advocated to attain long-term peace.

“The president additionally mentioned his imaginative and prescient for a extra sturdy peace and safety for Israel totally built-in throughout the area and a two state-solution with Israel’s safety assured,” the White Home mentioned in an announcement about their name.

Netanyahu had mentioned in a press convention that he informed Washington he objected to any Palestinian statehood that didn’t assure Israel’s safety. “Israel should have safety management over your entire territory west of the Jordan River. That is a needed situation,” he mentioned.

Biden’s name got here as Crimson Crescent officers accused Israel of firing on a hospital in Khan Younis, the principle metropolis within the southern a part of Gaza.

Israel launched a serious new advance in Khan Younis this week to seize town, which it says is now the first base of Hamas fighters who attacked Israeli cities on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and precipitating a battle that has devastated the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza well being ministry mentioned 142 Palestinians had been killed and 278 injured in Gaza over the previous 24 hours, elevating the demise toll from greater than three months of battle to 24,762.

Requested a couple of request by Mexico and Chile for the Worldwide Legal Courtroom to research potential crimes in opposition to civilians in Gaza, Kirby mentioned the US was nonetheless gathering extra details about what that will entail.

“We have no indications that there is deliberate … efforts to commit battle crimes by the Israeli Protection Forces,” Kirby mentioned.

Kirby additionally expressed involved about stories from Palestinian well being officers who mentioned a 17-year-old Palestinian-American teenager was killed by Israeli safety forces within the West Financial institution on Friday.

“We’re severely involved about these stories,” Kirby mentioned. “We will be in fixed contact with counterparts within the area to get extra data.”