On Wednesday, the White House announced President Joe Biden’s opposition to the “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state. This statement follows recent actions by Spain, Ireland, and Norway to normalize relations with Palestine.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson conveyed the administration’s stance, emphasizing the importance of a negotiated peace agreement.
“Biden is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career. Joe Biden “believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition”, she said.
The White House clarified that President Joe Biden opposes the “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state. This stance comes in the wake of recent decisions by Spain, Ireland, and Norway to formally recognize the State of Palestine, though the comments did not directly reference these actions by the three European nations, which are close allies of the United States.
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Both President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been advocating for Israel to establish a clear timeline for the creation of a Palestinian state.
This diplomatic effort includes leveraging the possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel as an incentive.
Despite these efforts, the U.S. recently exercised its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block a resolution aimed at recognizing the State of Palestine.
The administration insists that such recognition must emerge from direct negotiations that carefully address and incorporate Israel’s security concerns.
National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson emphasized the administration’s commitment to a negotiated peace process that balances the aspirations and security needs of both Israelis and Palestinians.