Ramallah is encouraged by US President Joe Biden, who said that a change is needed on the Palestinian issue and that it is difficult to make progress on this issue with the current government, but at the same time stresses that "as long as America does not force Israel to stop the war in Gaza, there is a problem."
Netanyahu on his meeting with Biden: "We agreed on cooperation that will change the equation on all fronts" // Omer Meron / GPO, Sound: Yehezkel Kandil / GPO
A senior Palestinian official told Israel Hayom that the Palestinian leadership is satisfied with President Biden's statement that "Israel is beginning to lose support because of the bombings in Gaza," but that the Palestinian Authority thinks this is not enough, and demands that the American administration take practical steps and exert pressure on Israel to move forward with the fighting.
"We are sending messages to the Americans that they need to stop transferring ammunition to Israel as part of the war in Gaza. Every day we repeat this request to them and explain to them that transferring weapons now only encourages Israel to continue fighting."
The scene of an attack in the Gaza Strip, photo: AP
"We think Biden should order Netanyahu to stop the war. One word from him and Israel will stop. Only He can force it to put an end to its war and killing machine in Gaza. As long as this does not happen, the situation continues to serve Israel. We don't want to hear just words without actions. The American position should be tougher on Israel and not biased in its favor," he explained.
He argues that as long as the war continues, there is no real meaning to the talk around the day after. "First of all, stop the war in Gaza. Anything that is being talked about now, while there is still fire - what relevance exactly does it have? We said that we demanded actions to stop the war and that we wanted a comprehensive political solution for Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We don't care who is in your government."
"As long as the war continues, there is no meaning to talking about the day after." Attack in Gaza, photo: AFP
However, another source in Ramallah said that President Biden's statement on the establishment of a Palestinian state at this time was important and showed that the Americans "do not put all Palestinians in one basket of collective punishment. The U.S. understands that it is impossible to delegitimize all Palestinians; it weakens peace supporters. We told them that the Palestinian people mostly support peace and don't want wars," he added.
Thousands celebrate the massacre in Ramallah, Fatah stronghold, photo: AFP
Meanwhile, Hussein Sheikh, secretary general of the PLO's Executive Committee, said today that "President Biden's statements must turn into actions, starting with a call for an immediate cessation of the fire and laying down a comprehensive political plan based on international law and resolutions, until the end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."
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