Biden says the US would use drive as a ‘final resort’ to stop Iranian nuclear weapons
Joe Biden is on the defensive as his Center East journey continues in Saudi Arabia. This portion of the journey is meant to reset the US-Saudi relationship
The president laughed off criticism that he should not have fist-bumped the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who’s believed to have ordered the ugly 2018 homicide of Saudi dissident and Washington Publish author Jamal Khashoggi.
Mr. Biden informed reporters on Friday that he pressed MBS concerning the “outrageous” homicide throughout a wide-ranging assembly between US and Saudi high officers.
“I made my view crystal clear … for an American president to be silent on a difficulty of human rights is inconsistent with who we’re and with who I’m,” he mentioned.
Rep. Ilhan Omar says the journey to the dominion “sends the flawed message to everybody who cares about human rights”.
Forward of the go to, Israel and Saudi Arabia took an vital step in the direction of normalizing relations with an settlement on flights and Pink Sea islands.
Earlier than flying to Jeddah, the president reaffirmed US help for “two states for 2 peoples” whereas within the West Financial institution. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the “floor shouldn’t be ripe” to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Hanan Elatr Khashoggi thanks Biden for elevating her late husband’s homicide with MBS
Assertion from Mrs. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi concerning the assembly of President Biden with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman:
I want to thank President Biden for elevating my husband, Jamal Khashoggi’s homicide with the Crown Prince. He raised it in the beginning and for that I’m grateful. I additionally want to thank President Biden for fulfilling Jamal’s true legacy, which is to focus on the problem of human rights and political prisoners. This assembly was the start of accountability for my husband’s homicide. By means of the American justice system, I together with my authorized crew intend to carry all events accountable for the homicide of my husband.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 22:45
Biden stays dedicated to a two-state resolution
President Joe Biden has mentioned he stays dedicated to a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian battle, even when “the bottom shouldn’t be ripe” to restart negotiations between the 2 events.
Talking in Bethlehem alongside the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on FridayMr Biden mentioned “two states” — one Israeli, one Palestinian — established alongside Israel’s 1967 borders with “mutually agreed-to [land] swaps” stays the “greatest method to obtain equal measures of safety, prosperity, freedom and democracy for the Palestinians in addition to Israelis”.
Biden says he stays dedicated to a two-state resolution through the West Financial institution go to
‘Palestinian individuals deserve a state of their very own that is impartial, sovereign, viable, and contiguous’
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 22:30
Earlier: Biden mentioned he ‘can not purchase resolution’ to Palestine occupation
Joe Biden has been accused of making an attempt to “purchase an answer” to Israel’s half-century-long occupation of Palestine because it was revealed that he could be pledging greater than $300 million (£250m) in assist.
On Friday, the US president met his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem – within the Israeli-controlled West Financial institution – the place individuals have gathered to protest his arrival.
Lamiat Sabin stories for The Unbiased.
Biden in West Financial institution however informed he ‘can not purchase resolution’ to Palestine occupation
Palestinian protesters have been demonstrating in opposition to the US president’s arrival
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 22:00
Biden hails Saudi normalization steps with Israel over airspace
President Biden mentioned it’s a “huge deal” that “many months of quiet diplomacy” have resulted in Saudi Arabia opening its air house to flights from Israel.
“That could be a huge deal, not solely symbolically, but additionally substantively it is a huge deal,” the president mentioned on Friday. “It means Saudi air house is now open to flights to and from Israel. It is the primary tangible step on a path on what I hope is broader normalization of relations.”
Josh Marcus15 July 2022 21:45
‘What occurred to Kashoggi was outrageous’: Biden says he took MBS to job over journalist’s homicide in Saudi Arabia
President Joe Biden’s first day in Saudi Arabia ended with him unable to keep away from a second he and his advisers had taken nice pains to keep away from: A televised fist-bump with the person who ordered the homicide of Washington Publish journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The temporary encounter between Mr Biden and Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince who’s extensively recognized by his initials, MBS, came about not lengthy after Mr Biden’s arrival within the kingdom for 2 days of conferences with Saudi officers and leaders from throughout the Gulf area.
White Home officers had hoped to keep away from any picture of Mr. Biden partaking in a handshake or any kind of greeting with MBS by claiming on the outset of the journey that the almost 80-year-old president could be eschewing handshakes as a precaution attributable to rising Covid-19 circumstances within the area. However Mr. Biden scuttled that plan inside minutes of his arrival in Israel for the primary leg of his journey when he greeted the Israeli opposition chief Benjamin Netanyahu with a hearty grip-and-grin.
Upon his arrival in Jeddah, the primary merchandise on Mr. Biden’s agenda was a bilateral assembly with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. However the president was greeted as a substitute by MBS. Introduced with the selection between the handshake he needed to keep away from and additional upending the US-Saudi relationship, the president selected to compromise with a Covid-conscious fist-bump.
Andrew Feinberg with the total report.
Biden says he took MBS to job over the journalist’s homicide on the primary day in Saudi Arabia
‘With respect to the homicide of Kashoggi, I raised it on the high of the assembly, making it clear what I considered it on the time, and what I consider it now’
Josh Marcus15 July 2022 21:29
Joe Biden laughs off criticisms of fist bump with Saudi crown prince
Joe Biden flashed a giant grin on Friday when reporters requested him if he regretted fist-bumping Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman upon arriving within the nation.
Intelligence officers imagine Mr bin Salman ordered the ugly 2018 homicide of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and Washington Publish author who was a US everlasting resident.
Mr. Biden mentioned he pressed Saudi officers together with MBS about what occurred to Khashoggi to open a gathering officers had on Friday.
“I raised it on the high of the assembly, making it clear what I considered it on the time and what I consider it now,” he mentioned. “I used to be easy and direct in discussing it. I made my view crystal clear. I mentioned very straightforwardly, for an American president to be silent on the problem of human rights is inconsistent with who we’re and who I’m. I will at all times get up for our values.”
Josh Marcus15 July 2022 21:11
Prime Democrat slams Biden fist bump
Democratic California Consultant Adam Schiff, chairman of the Home Intelligence Committee, who has been outspoken concerning the homicide of Jamal Khashoggi, slammed the president’s fist bump with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
In uncommon criticism of the Joe Biden from a high Home Democrat, Mr Schiff tweeted: “If we ever wanted a visible reminder of the persevering with grip oil-rich autocrats have on US international coverage within the Center East, we received it at this time.”
He added: “One fist bump is price a thousand phrases.”
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 20:50
President Biden presents remarks on Saudi Arabia journey
President Biden is now giving a speech about his Saudi Arabia journey.
Watch his remarks dwell right here, through the White Home.
Josh Marcus15 July 2022 20:48
Washington Publish writer calls fist bump ‘shameful’
Fred Ryan, Writer and CEO of The Washington Publishhas joined the refrain of condemnation President Joe Biden is dealing with for his fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The fist bump between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake–it was shameful. It projected a degree of intimacy and luxury that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately looking for.
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 20:26