US President Joe Biden said this Friday that the Palestinian people deserves its status and promised that he will continue to work to reactivate the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, although he acknowledged this. the soil is now not “fertile”.

The US president made these statements together with the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, in the presidential palace in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

“The Palestinian people deserve a state of their own independent, sovereign and vital and contiguous. Two states for two peoples. Both have deep roots in this land, “said Biden, who had three Palestinian and three American flags in the background.

This is not the time

The sovereign acknowledged that, at this time, the soil is not “fertile” to return to the negotiating table, but reaffirmed his commitment to peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Also, announced $ 201 million in aid for the programs that the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, so much so that since he came to power in January 2021, the president has handed over to that agency more than 618 million dollars.

His predecessor Donald Trump (2017-2021) stopped aid to UNRWA and he made great concessions to Israel, forcing the Palestinian leadership to sever ties with Washington.

Biden said he has also been in talks with Israel so that Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza can access 4G technology on mobile phones.

Palestinian telecommunications companies have been unable to offer these services to their customers due to Israeli restrictionseven if there have been attempts so that the type of connection can be renewed and the Palestinians can access the Internet with greater speed.

Before the press conference, Biden and Abbas attended a ceremony in which They played American and Palestinian anthems. They also held a bilateral meeting attended by, among others, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohamed Shtayeh, and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

Upon arrival at the presidential palace in Bethlehem, Biden was greeted by Abbas and two children carrying flowers.

Previously, the US president had been to Augusta Victoria hospital in occupied East Jerusalem, where he announced $ 100 million in aid for the Palestinian hospital network.

On the way from the hospital to the presidential palace, the presidential entourage passed under several signs with the message: President, this is apartheid..

Saudi Arabia, next step

Bethlehem was the second stop on Biden’s tour of the Middle East, following his meeting in Jerusalem with the Israeli authorities and before his trip to Saudi Arabia, where controversial Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman awaits him.

Biden’s visit is the first to the kingdom and the Middle East since he became president. He will first meet the king of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and then the country’s crown prince.

In a gesture towards the American’s visit, Riyadh announced on Friday its decision to do so open your airspace to all airlines.

The country’s General Civil Aviation Authority tweeted that the decision is in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s intention to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 Chicago Convention, which establishes non-discrimination among civil aircraft used in international air navigation.

The decision consolidates the position of the kingdom as a global hub which connects three continents and improves international air connectivity.

On the same day, Israeli interim prime minister Yair Lapid applauded Saudi Arabia’s decision to open its airspace.

“This is the first step. We will continue to work with due caution, for the Israeli economy, its security and for the citizens of Israel,” Lapid said in a statement released by his office.

Previously, Israeli airlines could not travel through Saudi airspace due to a ban, making flights to regions like Asia more expensive and longer.

Agencies

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