Joe Biden speaks with Benjamin Netanyahu on Gaza for first time in nearly a month
- The US president says a two-state solution for Palestine is not impossible while Netanyahu is in office, despite recent comments by the Israeli leader
- The leaders also discussed plans to free hostages held by Hamas, and Israel’s shift to more ‘targeted’ operations in Gaza
US President Joe Biden on Friday said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu about possible solutions for the creation of an independent state for Palestinians, noting that not all countries have their own militaries.
Biden’s call with Netanyahu was the first in nearly a month, the White House said, noting the discussions focused on Israel’s ongoing strikes in Gaza.
White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Biden had been trying to schedule the call “for quite a bit of time” and denied it came in response to Netanyahu’s comment on Thursday saying he objected to Palestinian statehood that did not guarantee Israel’s security.
Asked if a two-state solution was impossible while Netanyahu was still in office, Biden said: “No, it’s not.”
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with US mayors, Biden said Netanyahu was not opposed to all two-state solutions, and there were a number of types possible, adding that some United Nations members do not have military forces.