Victor EzejaUnited States President, Joe Biden, has called for adoption of a two-state solution as a way of ensuring lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
The US President’s call comes in the wake of fresh conflict between Israel and Palestine, following an attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7.
Biden, who traveled to Tel Aviv the capital of Israel, addressed a press conference on Wednesday where he expressed support for a two-state solution in the pursuit of peace.
“Nations of conscience like the United States and Israel are not measured solely by the example of power. We are measured by the power of our example, and that’s why as hard as it is, we must keep pursuing peace. We must keep pursuing a path so that Israel and the Palestinian people can both live safely and securely in dignity and in peace. For me, that means a two-state solution,” Biden stated.
“We must keep working for Israel’s greater integration with its neighbors. These attacks have only strengthened my commitment and determination and my will to get that done,” he added.
The US president, who was received at the Ben Gurion International Airport by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog, expressed his country’s support for Israel in the conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza.
In his address, Biden emphasized that a two-state solution would help a great in the peace process between two nations embroiled in war for about 75 years.
What is a Two-state solution?
The concept of a two-state solution envisions an Israeli state coexisting peacefully with a Palestinian state. Since the UN Partition Plan of 1947, it has been the objective of the international community to use that approach in resolving their conflict. However, achieving the aim has not been easy. A number of options raised that are essential to the solution have been left unresolved by the two sides – Israel and Palestine.
Both nations have reportedly laid claims to portions of Jerusalem, as their capital and also continue to argue over Israeli settlements in occupied land and disagree over where borders should be drawn. Furthermore, there are questions as to what becomes the fate of the Palestinian refugees who, during the 1948 war, left what is now Israel.
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According to UN statistics, there are an estimated 700,000 Palestinian refugees worldwide.
UN reportedly intends to split Jerusalem between the two nations and in line with the 1967 Green Line as the boundary between Israeli and Palestinian territories, subject to land swaps based on discussions.
Continuing in his address, President Biden urged Israel not to be consumed by rage over the unexpected attack launched by Hamas which triggered the ongoing conflict. While comparing the attack to that of 9/11 at the World Trade Centre in 2001 carried out by the Al-Qaida terrorist group, Biden noted that the US while feeling enraged then, made mistakes and but sought justice.
He urged Israel to be deliberate in making honest decisions that help in realizing the objective of seeking justice.
US Promises $100m Humanitarian Aid to Palestinians
Biden disclosed that the US would provide $100 million for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
Expressing concerns about the humanitarian implications of the conflict, the US president said not all Palestinians are members of Hamas, adding that the group which had earlier been branded as a terrorist organization, uses innocent people as shields.
“The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people,” he said.
“Hamas uses innocents, innocent families in Gaza as human shields, putting their command centers, their weapons, and the communications tunnels in residential areas. The Palestinian people are suffering greatly as well,” he added.
He further disclosed that Israel has agreed to allow passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza from Egypt and warned that any attempt by Hamas to block the aids, would US President Joe Biden said Israel has agreed humanitarian assistance can cross into Gaza from Egypt and warned that any attempt by Hamas to block aid supplies would show that it has “no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people.”
“Today I asked the Israeli cabinet, who I met with for some time this morning, to agree to the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, based on the understanding that there will be inspections and that the aid should go to civilians and not to Hamas.
“Israel agreed that humanitarian assistance can begin to move from Egypt to Gaza.
“We’re working in close cooperation with the government of Egypt, the United Nations and its agencies like the World Food Programme and other partners in the region to get trucks moving across the border as soon as possible,” Biden said.
He added that the US “unequivocally stands for the protection of civilian life during conflict.”
“People of Gaza need food, water, medicine, shelter,” he further stressed.
Earlier, he condemned the attack on a Gaza hospital said to have killed about 500 people.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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