US President Joe Biden criticised members of Israel's far-right cabinet over their policies in the occupied West Bank, and reiterated his support for a two-state solution with Palestinians.
“It's not all Israel's problem [in the West Bank], but they are part of the problem … particularly those individuals in the cabinet who say …[Palestinians] have no right to be here,” Mr Biden said in a pre-recorded interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, which aired on Sunday.
“I am one of those who believes Israel's ultimate security rests in a two-state solution,” he added.
Mr Biden dodged questions as to whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would receive an invitation to visit the White House, after Israel engaged in its largest military operation in the West Bank's Jenin in decades, killing at least 12 people last week.
The comments are a rare show of cautious American criticism of its longtime ally, which has become more frequent as the Biden administration works with Israel's far-right government under Mr Netanyahu.
The Israeli operation focused on the northern city of Jenin, a centre for several armed Palestinian groups. It involved hundreds of troops, drone strikes and armoured bulldozers. Apache gunship helicopters were deployed in the West Bank for the first time since the intifada, or uprising, 23 years ago.
The EU's representative to the Palestinian territories condemned the level of force employed in the deadly raid, after leading a delegation of UN officials and diplomats to the camp. The condemnation follows UN experts saying the Israeli operation could constitute a war crime.
At the start of the two-day incursion, a White House official told The National that the administration supported Israel's right to defend itself.
Mr Biden said on Sunday that the “Palestinian Authority has lost its credibility … and created a vacuum for extremism among the Palestinians, there's some very extreme elements.”
He added that Washington is talking with the Israelis “regularly” in a bid to “tamp down” the violent escalations in the West Bank.
“Hopefully [Mr Netanyahu] will continue to move towards moderation and changing the conduct,” he added.
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20front-axle%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E218hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh215%2C000%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
