From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Biden tells Muslim gathering US working for ‘sustained calm’; Blinken urges immediate end to violence
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Joe Biden says the US is working “toward sustained calm” between Israel and the Palestinians.
In virtual remarks on a pre-taped video played at a White House ceremony to mark Eid al-Fitr at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Biden says: “My administration is going to continue to engage Palestinians and Israelis and other regional partners to work toward sustained calm.”
President Biden said his administration is working with Palestinians and Israelis to work toward a sustained calm, adding that both deserve to live in safety and security pic.twitter.com/Tgxw75Sp1s
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 17, 2021
“We also believe Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live in safety and security and enjoy equal measure of freedom, prosperity and democracy.”
Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged all parties to de-escalate. After talks with the Egyptian foreign minister, Blinken tweeted that “the violence must end immediately.”
Spoke today with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry to discuss the ongoing violence in Israel, West Bank, and Gaza. All parties need to deescalate tensions – the violence must end immediately.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 16, 2021
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