Biden also talks Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza with Abbas

The White House also releases a statement about Biden’s call with his Palestinian Authority counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, saying the US president spoke with him to stress his “commitment to strengthening the US-Palestinian partnership.”

It says the two talked about tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and, using the same wording as the White House statement on Biden’s call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Biden and Abbas discussed “their shared desire for Jerusalem to be a place of peaceful coexistence for people of all faiths and backgrounds.”

Biden also told Abbas about “US diplomatic engagement on the ongoing conflict” and stressed that the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group needs to halt rocket attacks on Israel, according to the readout.

“They expressed their shared concern that innocent civilians, including children, have tragically lost their lives amidst the ongoing violence. The president expressed his support for steps to enable the Palestinian people to enjoy the dignity, security, freedom, and economic opportunity that they deserve,” the statement says.

It adds that Biden noted that he resumed aid to the Palestinians that was cut by his predecessor Donald Trump and reiterated his backing for “a negotiated two-state solution as the best path to reach a just and lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”