U.S. President Biden on Friday endorsed a two-state solution but said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has “important work to do” to prepare for peace with Israel.
In an at times tense joint statement in Bethlehem, Mr. Biden appeased the Palestinian leader but pressured him to take immediate steps to confront corruption and improve the lives of the Palestinian people.
“The Palestinian Authority has important work to do as well, if you don’t mind my saying,” he said. “Now is the time to strengthen Palestinian institutions to improve governance, transparency, and accountability.”
Mr. Abbas has looked toward the U.S. for its support of a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel and used the opportunity during his joint statement with Mr. Biden to call Israel to the negotiating table.
Mr. Biden reiterated his support for Palestinian independence but said both states should “not wait for a peace agreement to be reached, or for every issue to be resolved to deliver on the needs of the Palestinian people that exist today.”
He called on Mr. Abbas to “combat corruption, advance rights and freedoms,” and improve services.
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“All this work is critical,” Mr. Biden said. “And it will help build a society that can support a successful democratic future in a future Palestinian state.”
Mr. Biden’s support for Palestinian priorities in peace negotiations is a reversal from former President Donald Trump’s stance, which heavily favored Israel.
Still, Mr. Biden is criticized for not taking steps to rejuvenate peace talks more quickly.
Mr. Abbas, in his statement, spotlighted what he said was an urgent need to take steps toward a negotiated solution.
“The key to peace and security in our region begins with recognizing the state of Palestine,” he said. “We look forward to steps from the US administration to strengthen bilateral relations.”
Mr. Biden has walked a diplomatic tightrope between the two sides, and the delicate balance was on full display during his address.
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Palestinian officials have been critical of the White House’s handling of the recent killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed while covering an Israeli military raid in the West Bank in May.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned what it said was the U.S.’s attempt to “whitewash and excuse” Akleh’s killing after the State Department stated that her death was likely intentional.
The group blasted Mr. Biden for not meeting with Akleh’s family during his trip “while warmly embracing racist Israeli politicians, dismissing the prospect of peace talks and pledging unconditional U.S. support for Israel’s human rights abuses.”
Mr. Biden lamented her killing in his remarks on Friday.
“Her death is an enormous loss to the essential work of sharing with the world a story of the Palestinian people,” he said. “The United States will continue to insist on a full and transparent accounting of her death and will continue to stand up for media freedom everywhere in the world.”
During his address, Mr. Biden tempered expectations that the two sides will quickly reach a deal.
“I know that the goal of the two states seems so far away, while indignities like restrictions on movement and travel or the daily worry of your children’s safety are real and they remain imminent,” he said. “Even if the ground is not ripe at this moment to restart negotiations, the United States and my administration will not give up on trying to bring the Palestinians and the Israelis, both sides, closer together.”
• Joseph Clark can be reached at jclark@washingtontimes.com.
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