Joe Biden “believes that a Palestinian state must emerge through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition,” a White House spokesperson said on Wednesday.
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“The president is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been for his entire career,” said Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council, in reaction to the decision to recognize the State of Palestine taken by Spain, Ireland and Norway, which hope to be joined by other European countries.
“This is a position of principle that we have consistently affirmed,” then commented Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor.
“Each country is free to make its own decisions” in this matter, he added.
Jake Sullivan, however, warned Israel against possible financial reprisals targeting the Palestinian Authority.
“It is a poor strategic decision because withholding funds destabilizes the West Bank, undermines the Palestinians’ quest for security and prosperity, which is in Israel’s interest, and we should not withhold funds that provide goods and services to innocent people,” said the National Security Advisor.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a representative of the far right, wants to end a financial arrangement in favor of the Palestinian Authority and in which Norway is involved.
Under agreements reached in the 1990s, partly with Norwegian mediation, Israel collects money on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.
But transfers of funds to the Palestinians were interrupted after the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7.
