US President Joe Biden pledged today that his country will provide an additional $100 million to support East Jerusalem hospitals as part of its long-term support for Palestinian health facilities.
Biden announced the pledge from Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem shortly before meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and before departing for Saudi Arabia.
“Today I am pleased to announce that the US is committing an additional $100 million to support these hospitals, your staff working for the Palestinian people,” he said.
Israel-Saudi rapprochement?
After two days of heated talks with Israeli officials, Biden is visiting the Palestinian territories today before heading to Saudi Arabia.
In the hours before his departure for the Gulf kingdom, two important announcements were made: Israel indicated that it has “no objection” to transferring two strategically important Red Sea islets to Saudi Arabia’s jurisdiction. And Riyadh announced it was opening its airspace to all “airlines”, in a move apparently aimed at Israel.
After his visit to the East Jerusalem hospital, Biden will travel to the West Bank, the Palestinian territory under Israeli occupation, to hold talks with Abbas on political and economic issues.
The American president will announce the provision of funding to the Palestinians, mainly for a project aimed at getting internet connection in the West Bank and Gaza to 4G network by 2023.
“This is apartheid”
On the road to Bethlehem, which is heavily guarded by police, Biden may see huge posters put up by the Israeli non-governmental organization against the settlement of B’Tselem with the slogan: “Mr. President, this is apartheid,” a petition in Israel’s policy in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Other posters and graffiti along the street pay tribute to Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by a bullet on May 11 while covering an Israeli army operation in the West Bank.
Beyond his economic commitments, Biden is expected to reiterate his support for a “two-state” solution, one Palestinian and one Israeli, although he does not appear ready to restart peace talks, which have been suspended since 2014.
After his conversation with Abbas, the American president, a devout Catholic, is expected to go to the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
SOURCE: APE-ME
Source: Capital

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