Washington, United States:
US President Joe Biden stated Wednesday that Israel has a suitable to defend itself but just after speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he hopes violent clashes with Palestinians will finish promptly.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu not too long ago,” Biden told reporters. “My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”
Biden stated US diplomacy was in higher gear with national safety and defense employees “in constant contact with their counterparts in the Middle East — not just with the Israelis, but also with everyone from the Egyptians and the Saudis to the Emiratis.”
Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Hady Amr, the State Department official in charge of Israeli and Palestinian affairs, was leaving Wednesday to the area to urge “de-escalation of violence.”
The major US diplomat also talked with Netanyahu, once more pushing for each sides to step back from fighting.
Blinken “reiterated his call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence,” stated a State Department statement.
The Pentagon stated Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had referred to as his Israeli counterpart, Benny Gantz, and backed Israel’s “legitimate right to defend itself and its people” though also urging actions to restore calm.
Blinken described scenes of dead Palestinian civilians, like children, as “harrowing” but defended Israel’s assault on Gaza in response to rocket fire by Hamas militants.
“I think Israel has an extra burden in trying to do everything they possibly can to avoid civilian casualties, even as it is rightfully responding in defense of its people,” Blinken stated.
But the diplomat stated there was a “very clear and absolute distinction between a terrorist organization, Hamas, that is indiscriminately raining down rockets — in fact, targeting civilians — and Israel’s response defending itself.”
Biden’s administration earlier appealed to ally Israel to reroute a flashpoint parade in Jerusalem and stop evictions of Palestinians in the holy city, the instant trigger for the new round of violence.
Taking more nuance just after the militantly pro-Israel administration of Donald Trump, Blinken renewed US assistance for the eventual creation of an independent Palestinian state.
“This violence takes us further away from that goal,” Blinken stated.
“We believe Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live with safety and security and will continue to engage with Israelis, Palestinians and other regional partners to urge de-escalation and to bring calm.”
In a statement, the White House stated that in the course of his get in touch with with Netanyahu, Biden “condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. He conveyed his unwavering support for Israel’s security and for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people, while protecting civilians.”
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