Biden Administration ‘Strongly’ Supports Two-State Solution

The Dome of the Rock located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount is seen in the background as Palestinian youths hold their skateboards while standing on a rooftop, in Jerusalem's Old City February 7, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
The Dome of the Rock located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount is seen in the background as Palestinian youths hold their skateboards while standing on a rooftop, in Jerusalem's Old City February 7, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
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Biden Administration ‘Strongly’ Supports Two-State Solution

The Dome of the Rock located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount is seen in the background as Palestinian youths hold their skateboards while standing on a rooftop, in Jerusalem's Old City February 7, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
The Dome of the Rock located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount is seen in the background as Palestinian youths hold their skateboards while standing on a rooftop, in Jerusalem's Old City February 7, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Recent statements made by the US Secretary of State have indicated that the White House will pursue the former administration’s policy on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, except for not opposing the two-state solution and having Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

In an interview with CNN on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that President Joe Biden “strongly supports” the two-state solution.

“The hard truth is we are a long way I think from seeing peace break out and seeing a final resolution of the problems between Israel and the Palestinians and the creation of a Palestinian state,” he said, stressing that Palestinians have the right to establish their own state.

The President considers the two-state solution “the only way to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state, and the only way to give the Palestinians a state to which they’re entitled.”

“We’re looking to make sure that neither side takes unilateral actions that make the prospects for moving toward peace and a resolution even more challenging than they already are.”

The administration will support steps that create a better environment in which actual negotiations can take place, he stated.

Commenting on the Abraham Accords, Blinken said the new administration applauded them.

“This is an important step forward. Whenever we see Israel and its neighbors normalizing relations, improving relations, that’s good for Israel, it’s good for the other countries in question, it’s good for overall peace and security, and I think it offers new prospects to people throughout the region through travel, through trade, through other work that they can do together to actually materially improve their lives.”

Nevertheless, he ruled out that the challenges of the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians go away.

“They’re not going to miraculously disappear,” he stressed.

In his response to whether Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said they spoke during the transition period, adding that he talked to his Israeli counterparts on multiple occasions already.

“What we have to see happen is for the parties to get together directly and negotiate these so-called final status issues,” he said, stressing that it’s the objective.

“And as I said, we’re unfortunately a ways away from that at this point in time.”



Israel Strikes Beirut's Southern Suburbs once Again

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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Israel Strikes Beirut's Southern Suburbs once Again

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon November 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s Haret Hreik area in the southern suburbs again on Friday after evacuation warnings were issued to residents prior to the attacks by an Israeli spokesman.
The Israeli army issued evacuation orders to residents in the areas of al-Hadath and Haret Hreik, as well as several villages in Lebanon’s south requesting they move to north of Awwali River.
When it issues such a warning, Israel cites alleged presence of Hezbollah fighters or infrastructure in civilian areas as a justification for its airstrikes.
Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, issued an evacuation warning to the residents of the towns of Tayba, Aadchit, Qusayr, and Deir Seryan, as well as to the residents of the towns of Burj al-Shamali and Maashuq in southern Lebanon.
He also requested the evacuation of residents from specific buildings in Hadath and Haret Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Later during the day, Lebanon’s health ministry said two medics were killed in the Israeli strikes on a southern Lebanon town.

Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,583 people and wounded 15,244 in Lebanon since October 2023, with 25 fatalities reported on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said on Thursday.