The president of the United States, Joe Biden, signed an article in The Washington Post in which he maintained the need for the Palestinian National Authority to be strengthened and able to manage not only the West Bank but also the Gaza Strip. The headline of the article is: “The United States will not back down from the challenge of Putin and Hamas.”
“As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank must be reunited under one governance structure, ultimately under a renewed Palestinian Authority, as we all work towards a two-state solution,” Biden wrote.
He continued: “I insist to Israeli leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop and that those who commit it must be held accountable. “The United States is ready to take its own measures, including banning visas for extremists who attack civilians in the West Bank.”
The article continues with a proposal where Israel recognizes Palestine, but Palestine ends with Hamas. “The road to peace must lead to a solution based on two states, that is, two people living together with the same freedom, opportunities, and dignity. Achieving this requires the commitment of Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the United States and our allies and partners. That work must begin now.”
“The two-state solution is the only way to guarantee the long-term security of Israel and the Palestinian people. Although at the moment it seems that the future is not far away, this crisis makes it more necessary than ever,” he emphasized.
The president does not believe in a suspension of Israeli army operations. “As long as Hamas maintains its ideology of destruction, a cease-fire is not peace. For Hamas members, every cease-fire is an opportunity for them to take advantage of rebuilding their rocket arsenal, reposition the fighters, and start killing again by attacking the innocents again.
Biden said, “An outcome that leaves Hamas in control of Gaza once again will perpetuate their hatred and deny Palestinian civilians the chance to build something better for themselves.”
Biden has spoken several times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said he is working for the release of hostages held by Hamas, including some Americans.
Demonstrations in the United States demanding a cease-fire in Gaza have erupted across the country, including clashes this week with police outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Unlike Biden, many members of the party are calling for a ceasefire.
Biden also pointed to internal outbreaks of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. “Here at home, in a time when fear and suspicion, anger, and rage run high, we must work harder to hold on to the values that make us who we are. We are a nation of freedom to religion and freedom of expression. “We all have the right to debate, disagree, and protest peacefully, but without fear of being attacked in schools, workplaces, or anywhere else in our communities.”
“In recent years, too much oxygen has been given to hatred, fueling racism and an alarming rise in anti-Semitism in the United States. It intensified after the attacks on October 7. “Jewish families are afraid of being targeted at school if they wear symbols of their faith on the street or in their daily lives,” he continued.
He added: “At the same time, so many Muslim Americans, Arab Americans, and Palestinian Americans, and so many other communities, are angry and hurt, afraid of the resurgence of Islamophobia and mistrust that we’re seeing. after 9/11.”
“We cannot stand idly by when hatred rears its head. We must unequivocally denounce anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred and prejudice. “We must put aside violence and vitriol and see each other not as enemies but as fellow citizens,” Biden concluded.
