In its report on US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel and Palestine, the New York Times noted that Biden’s message to the Middle East was “good news for Israel and small steps for the Palestinians.”
AndIn its report, The New York Times explained: On Friday, President Biden sent conflicting messages to Israelis and Palestinians before leaving Israel for Saudi Arabia, announcing new steps towards Israeli integration in the Middle East and warning Palestinians that now is not the time for new peace talks to end Israeli- the Palestinian conflict. .
The newspaper reported that “Biden began on Friday by announcing that Saudi Arabia would allow direct flights to and from Israel, and that after years of secret behind-the-scenes talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the agreement was the Saudis’ first public step towards establishing official relations. “, – writes the newspaper.
The report stated that “Biden praised the move and called it ‘historic'” and that it was the latest sign of Israel’s growing acceptance among Arab leaders after years of regional isolation, as concerns about a nuclear Iran – which Israel and many Arab leaders share – replaced Arab solidarity with the Palestinians.
To the Palestinians, Biden offered sympathy and funding, but few long-term prospects, and during a brief visit to the West Bank, announced more than $300 million for Palestinian hospitals and refugees, some subject to congressional approval, and stated that Israel had agreed to grant Palestinians access to Fourth generation Internet, a decision that Israel has not yet confirmed. the Arab world can give new impetus to the dormant peace process.
While Biden warned that “at the moment the ground is not yet ripe for resuming negotiations” and announced that there is no long-term program to restart them, except in the hope that shifting alliances in the Middle East may at some point allow for a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian relations, according to The New York Times”.
“At this moment, as Israel is working to improve relations with its neighbors across the region, we can use that same momentum to revitalize the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples,” Biden said, referring to the new Saudi air force deal. and many previous agreements between Israel, Bahrain and Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
This juxtaposition highlighted the centerpiece of his 49-hour visit to Israel and the West Bank. For Israelis, it was a source of celebration – the arrival of a (as previously self-proclaimed) Zionist, one of Israel’s oldest and closest friends, and now the standard bearer of Israel’s integration into the Middle East.
“A visit that touched our entire country,” summed up Biden’s visit after the latter’s departure to Saudi Arabia, Acting Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
And for the Palestinians, part of the visit may be welcome, as Biden brought funding, interest, and reassurance that the United States still supports the concept of Palestinian sovereignty, but it was also a reminder that Palestinian aspirations are not a priority for Biden. The West Bank is at 46 in Israel, and has disappointed Palestinians by avoiding criticism of Israel, dispelled hopes of a renewed US-led peace process, and supported many of the Trump administration’s widely criticized decisions.
And “against this background, Biden made mild criticism of the Palestinian leadership.” improve governance, transparency and accountability.” While “Biden has not formally reversed the Trump administration’s decision to legalize Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which much of the world considers illegal, and following Israeli pressure, he no longer opened the US Consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Mission in Washington, both of which were closed under Trump.” ,” according to the New York Times.
The Biden administration angered the Palestinians by recently refusing to push Israel to launch a criminal investigation into the May murder of Palestinian-American journalist Shirin Abu Akle, as multiple investigations, including one by the New York Times, showed the bullets came from the location of an Israeli army branch.
Palestinians demonstrated against Biden on Friday in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and some Palestinians criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for meeting with him.
Source: The New York Times.