In an opinion article published in the Washington Post, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his view that the Palestinian Authority should ultimately govern both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank following the recent Israel-Hamas war. Biden emphasized the importance of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank under a single governance structure, specifically a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as part of the ongoing efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
Biden made it clear that certain conditions should be met in order to ensure a peaceful resolution. He stressed that there should be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no reoccupation of the territory, and no siege or blockade. Furthermore, he rejected any reduction in territory for the Palestinians.
The President utilized this op-ed to address the question of the United States’ vision for Gaza after the conflict ends. In contrast to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance, who believes Israel must maintain overall military responsibility in Gaza for the foreseeable future, Biden’s perspective favors a Palestinian-led governance structure.
Moreover, Biden announced that the United States is prepared to impose visa bans on extremists who target civilians in the West Bank. He expressed concern over the increasing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, particularly since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The situation in the West Bank has been highly volatile for over 18 months, with more than 3 million Palestinians living alongside over half a million Jewish settlers. The escalating violence has garnered international attention and raised growing concerns.
The article was reported by Steve Holland and Eric Beech. Editing was done by Doina Chiacu.
