Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Biden says spoke to Netanyahu, hopes violence ending ‘sooner than later’
US President Joe Biden sayst Israel has a right to defend itself, but after speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he hopes violent clashes with Palestinians will end soon.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu not too long ago,” Biden told reporters. “My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”

US President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House, May 7, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)