Biden in Israel and Palestine for second day of Middle East tour

The New Arab’s live coverage of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East concludes for today.

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Palestinian-Americans demand 'equal protection' from Biden

The Palestinian-American community in Palestine demanded that the US government and the US state department ensure "their rights as US citizens to be given equal protection and attention to those of other US citizens of dual nationality".
 
The community’s demands were voiced out in a press conference in Ramallah, organized by US citizens of Palestinian descent residing in Palestine. The press conference coincided with US president Joe Biden's arrival in the country, as part of his Middle East tour.
 
"Those of us who have experienced life under occupation first-hand appreciate the rights that may be taken for granted in the US, but as history has taught us none of us are truly free until the values of freedom and equality are enjoyed by all," the statement said.

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Biden repeats US support for two-state solution

US President Joe Biden reaffirmed American support for a two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday, a day before a scheduled meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.

Biden's visit has met with deep scepticism from Palestinians who say their concerns on issues including self-determination and settlement building in the occupied West Bank have been swept aside by a drive to fix Israel into regional security arrangements with Arab countries.

They also say Washington has failed to live up to pledges on reopening its consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem, closed by former US President Donald Trump in 2019.

Speaking following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Biden said the United States wanted to see a "lasting negotiated peace between the state of Israel and the Palestinian people".

"Israel must remain an independent, democratic Jewish state," he said.

Biden's visit to the Middle East will neither advance nor delay anything on the Palestine issue. Israel is still an occupying entity.
Al-Quds statement increases tension in the region.#Free_Palestine

— Moussi Ammar (@AmmarMoussi) July 14, 2022

(Reuters)

Iranian President warns US and allies against making 'mistakes'

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Thursday that the Islamic Republic will have a "harsh and regrettable response" to any "mistake" committed by Washington or its allies.

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed a joint pledge on Thursday to deny Iran nuclear arms, a show of unity by allies long divided over diplomacy with Tehran.

"The great nation of Iran will not accept any insecurity or crisis in the region and Washington and its allies should know that any mistake will be met by a harsh and regrettable response from Iran," Raisi said during a speech.

(Reuters)

Biden talks joint investment with Israel, India, UAE

US President Joe Biden held joint investment talks Thursday with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates, as Washington seeks to counter the global reach of China.

The multilateral summit was convened in Jerusalem where Biden is on his first Middle East tour as president, with leaders from India and the UAE joining remotely.

During the summit the UAE announced it would invest 2 million euros (dollars) in agricultural projects in India, which will supply the land.

Private firms from Israel and the US will be invited to also finance the scheme.

An Indian solar and wind energy project was also discussed in Jerusalem.

Biden joined the summit before speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, during which the president said he wants to secure US interests in the Middle East.

The US will not wait indefinitely for Iran to meet terms set by Washington to revive a 2015 agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme, President Joe Biden said in Jerusalem on Thursday.

Asked how long the United States was prepared to give diplomatic efforts, Biden said his administration had set out terms required for the deal to be restored and, "we're not going to wait forever" for Tehran to respond.

Biden does *not* believe in the equal worth of both people. He never did, he never will. The reason why Israelis are completely incapable of curbing their human rights abuses is that there is never accountability. This is also the reason why Israel keeps lurching to the right https://t.co/XqR5UJk2lt

— İyad el-Baghdadi | إياد البغدادي (@iyad_elbaghdadi) July 14, 2022

US won't wait for Iran

The US will not wait indefinitely for Iran to meet terms set by Washington to revive a 2015 agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme, President Joe Biden said in Jerusalem on Thursday.

Asked how long the United States was prepared to give diplomatic efforts, Biden said his administration had set out terms required for the deal to be restored and, "we're not going to wait forever" for Tehran to respond.

US to use all of its power to stop Iran from acquiring nukes

The US will use "all elements of its national power" to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, President Joe Biden pledged in a security declaration signed with Israel on Thursday.

"The United States stresses that integral to this pledge is the commitment never to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, and that it is prepared to use all elements of its national power to ensure that outcome," reads the text signed by Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Jerusalem.

EXCLUSIVE @POTUS interview with @N12News: committed to keeping IRGC on the foreign terrorist organizations list even if it kills the deal; willing to use force “as last resort” pic.twitter.com/jWjLO0SVQz

— Yonit Levi (@LeviYonit) July 13, 2022

US, Israel jointly pledge to deny Iran nuclear arms

The leaders of the United States and Israel pledged on Thursday to deny Iran nuclear weaponry, including through the possible use of "all elements of national power" available to Washington, according to a joint statement.

The statement, to be signed in Jerusalem by US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid later in the day, also reaffirmed US support for Israel's military superiority in the region, including with future defence grants. 

Biden meets with Lapid

US President Joe Biden has begun a one-on-one meeting in Jerusalem with Israel’s prime minister, Yair Lapid.

Their talks are the centerpiece of a 48-hour visit by the US president aimed at strengthening already tight relations between the two countries.

The leaders are expected to sign a joint declaration emphasizing military cooperation as well as their commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The commitments to Israel could hold important symbolic importance ahead of Biden’s meeting this weekend with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia as he seeks to strengthen a regionwide alliance against Iran.

Thursday’s meeting also provides a boost to Lapid, who is Israel’s interim prime minister until elections in November. Lapid’s main opponent is the former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his joint appearance his Biden could help burnish his credentials as a statesman and leader.

Speaking to The New Arab, Palestinian political analysts say that Biden's visit to the West Bank is merely part of a diplomatic procedure because he cannot come to Israel without seeing the Palestinian leadership. 

"The Palestinian issue is not currently a top US priority," said Ali al-Jarbawi, a Ramallah-based political analyst. "The main objective of Biden's visit is to provide political, security and economic support to Israel by strengthening its relations with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia."

"Normalisation between Israel and the Arab countries will increase pressure on the Palestinians to make more concessions in favour of Israeli settlements and crimes," Al-Jarbawi added. 

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Israel, US agree on pledge to prevent Iran going nuclear 

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid will sign a joint pledge to deny Iran nuclear weapons on Thursday, closing ranks after long-running disputes between the allies over global diplomacy with Tehran.

Biden, who is visiting Jerusalem, said on Wednesday he was open to "last resort" use of force against Iran - an apparent move toward accommodating Lapid's calls on world powers to present a "credible military threat" against Israel's arch foe.

The US and Israel have separately made such veiled threats against Iran - which denies seeking nuclear weaponry - for years. Formally articulating the rhetoric could enhance the sense of deterrence and mutual commitment to action.