Meeting with Palestinian President: Biden advocates two-state solution

After a meeting with Palestinian President Abbas, US President Biden again spoke out in favor of a two-state solution. He called for a “political horizon” for the Palestinians and promised further financial aid.

In the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, US President Joe Biden has reiterated his call for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. This two-state solution remains the best way to achieve security, prosperity, freedom and democracy for both Israelis and Palestinians, Biden said after meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.

By a two-state solution is meant that an independent, democratic, and demilitarized state of Palestinians coexists peacefully with Israel. “The Palestinian people deserve a state of their own that is independent, sovereign, viable and cohesive,” Biden said. But he knew that the goal seemed a long way off. “Even if the conditions for a resumption of negotiations are not present at this time, the United States and my administration will not give up trying to bring the Palestinians and Israelis and both sides closer to each other.” The peace process between Israel and the Palestinians has been idle since 2014.

There must be “a political horizon” for the Palestinian people, said the US President. “We must not allow hopelessness to rob us of our future.” Biden called not to give up the search for a peace solution and called for an end to the violence in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. In a two-state solution, both states would have to respect each other.

Further financial aid promised

Biden also promised additional financial aid to the Palestinians. “Today I announce that the United States will provide an additional $200 million to enable UNRWA to continue the vital work of helping Palestinians most in need,” he said. Under Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, the US government had stopped payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Biden promised the East Jerusalem Hospitals Association EJHN another $100 million. However, Congress in Washington still has to approve the money for the association of six clinics.

Abbas demands recognition of a state of Palestine

Abbas himself called on the United States to recognize a Palestinian state after the meeting. “The key to peace and security in our region begins with the recognition of the State of Palestine,” he said. The Palestinian people must be enabled to obtain their legitimate rights. All permanent status issues, including the Palestinian refugee issue, would need to be resolved. Israel must end the occupation of the Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian President is also calling for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to be removed from the US terror list. “We are not terrorists,” he said. The Palestinians would fight terrorism in their region and the world. The secular-oriented Palestinian President’s Party is the largest faction of the PLO. Fatah’s goal is an independent Palestinian state. In the past, Fatah has also resorted to violent struggle. After recognizing Israel in 1988, it changed its charter and, according to its own statements, is now striving to found a state by peaceful means.

Biden’s meeting with Abbas followed two days of prolonged talks in Israel. The US President wants to travel to Saudi Arabia later today. He wants to meet representatives of Arab governments there at the weekend.

Possible limits disputed

A two-state solution has been sought since the mid-1970s and is also seen internationally as a way of resolving the Middle East conflict. However, Israelis and Palestinians have different ideas. Among other things, the limits are disputed. In addition, Israel cites its security interests above all.

In the past, Biden had emphasized that a sustainable peace would only be possible once all actors in the region unequivocally “recognized Israel’s right to exist as an independent Jewish state”. Hamas, for example, which rules in Gaza, has so far rejected this. The Palestinians, for their part, see the Israeli settlements in the West Bank as an obstacle to a two-state solution.

The status of Jerusalem is also disputed. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their own independent state. In 1980, Israel declared all of Jerusalem, including the Arabic-dominated eastern part, to be its indivisible capital.