Published 14:48 IST, September 30th 2021
US Prez Biden declined request to meet Palestinian counterpart Abbas at UN: Report
US President Joe Biden declined a request from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to meet on the sidelines of UNGA last week.
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US President Joe Biden declined a request from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to meet on sidelines of UNGA last week. According to a report published by Axios News, White House told Palestinian National Authority that Biden was neir available for a meeting in New York r later at White House. It was because of this, publication touted, that Abbas altered his decision to address summit in person.
Since taking office Biden has stopped short of prioritising Israeli-Palestinian conflict on foreign policy, a stance that comes in contrast to his predecessor Donald Trump.
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Under Trump’s proposed plan, Israel would have been allowed to annex 30 percent of West Bank to incorporate settlements and Jordan Valley. However, Biden has blatantly deunced zionist nda of annexation, albeit he dded to protection of Israel’s security and sovereignty. Golan Heights, which Israel annexed after six day war and Trump recognised as a part of Israel, remain of particular importance.
Trump, a close ally to former zionist, PM Benjamin Netanyahu, has also shown support to Israel’s claim over Jerusalem. Soon after assuming office in 2016, Trump had anunced relocation of US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and also subsumed consulate in mission. However, Biden promised to reopen consulate and establish communication with Palestinians.
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Palestinian conflict
Following six-day war in 1967, Israelis occupied Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights and much of Sinai Peninsula. Subsequently, Jews commenced construction of settlements. However, Palestinians objected to it and since n both communities have been trading barbs over occupied land. During his tenure as US President, Trump promised n Israeli PM and his close ally Benjamin Netanyahu to continue building in settlements across West Bank, so long as construction did t expand beyond communities’ “existing footprints”.
Recently, Israel has said that United States’ plan to reopen its consulate in contested city of Jerusalem is a “bad idea” and could destabilise newly-appointed PM Neftali Bennett’s government. Jerusalem was annexed by Israel in 1967’s six-day war and has traditionally served as Washington’s base to reach out to Palestinians. While Trump moved US embassy to Jerusalem, Biden anunced that he would soon open American consulate, which has been closed since 2019.
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Im: Anadolu ncy
14:48 IST, September 30th 2021