Palestinian-American activists denounce White House request that Israel avoid any actions that could increase tensions in the West Bank ahead of US president’s visit next month
By Umar A Farooq in Washington
Published date: 17 June 2022 19:06 UTC | Last update:3 hours 43 mins ago
Palestinian activists in the US have criticised the request reportedly made by the administration of US President Joe Biden that Israel temporarily halt actions in the occupied West Bank ahead of the president’s visit next month, saying it highlights the “magnitude of this administration’s weakness” and its inability to come up with a coherent policy towards Palestinians.
Axios reported the administration had asked Israel to halt home demolitions, evictions of Palestinians and any decisions on settlement building “until after Biden’s visit” in mid-July.
“The Biden administration doesn’t want us to create any crisis in the West Bank… They want quiet and calm” for Biden’s visit, a senior Israeli official told Axios.
‘It’s kind of a wink and a nod to their partner, Israel, to lay low for a little bit’
– Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian novelist and activist
Several Palestinian-Americans told Middle East Eye that the remarks were not a surprise, and cemented in their view how the Biden administration and previous US governments view Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
“If these comments indicate anything, it’s that the Biden administration has neither a vision nor a plan to deal with the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories,” Osama Abuirshaid, executive director of American Muslims for Palestine, told MEE.
“The administration may have decided that this was an issue that failed many American presidents before Biden, so taking a political risk seems unnecessary.”
In response to a request for comment on the reported remarks, a State Department spokesperson told MEE that the administration “has been clear that it is critical for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, this certainly includes settlement activity”.
The State Department declined to comment further on the matter.
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