US President Joe Biden link said Wednesday thatIsrael has a right to defend itself but after speaking with Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu link hopes violentclashes with Palestinians will end soon.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu not too long ago,” Biden toldreporters. “My expectation and hope is that this will be closing downsooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself when you havethousands of rockets flying into your territory.”
*Conflict will conclude soon*
President Joe Biden said he was hopeful that a cycle of violence betweenIsraelis link and Palestinianslink would end soon, after a phoneconversation he had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later,but Israel has a right to defend itself,” Biden told reporters at the WhiteHouse.
Biden did not explain the reasons behind his optimism. He said his nationalsecurity team had been in frequent contact with counterparts in Israel,Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to try to bring about aresolution of the conflict.
Violence erupted last Friday at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque amid growinganger over the potential eviction of Palestinians from homes on landclaimed by Jewish settlers. The clashes escalated on Monday.
A White House statement about the Biden-Netanyahu talks said Bidencondemned rocket attacks by Hamas and other groups against targets inIsrael and “conveyed his unwavering support for Israel’s security and forIsrael’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people, while protectingcivilians.”
“He also conveyed the United States’ encouragement of a pathway towardrestoring a sustainable calm. He shared his conviction that Jerusalem, acity of such importance to people of faith from around the world, must be aplace of peace,” the statement said.
The two leaders agreed to stay in touch personally in the days ahead and tomaintain close consultation between their teams, the statement said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a phone call on Wednesday withPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned “the rocket attacks andemphasized the need to de-escalate tensions and bring the current violenceto an end,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.