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At the UN, the U.S. Outlines President Biden's Approach to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
(U.S. Mission to the UN) Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN Richard Mills shared with the Security Council on Tuesday "some of the contours of the U.S. approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict under President Biden. Under the new administration, the policy of the United States will be to support a mutually agreed two-state solution, one in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state." "The United States will urge Israel's government and the Palestinian Authority to avoid unilateral steps that make a two-state solution more difficult, such as annexation of territory, settlement activity, demolitions, incitement to violence, and providing compensation for individuals imprisoned for acts of terrorism." "President Biden has been clear in his intent to restore U.S. assistance programs that support economic development and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people and to take steps to re-open diplomatic missions that were closed." "At the same time...the United States will continue its longstanding policy of opposing one-sided resolutions and other actions in international bodies that unfairly single out Israel." "The Biden Administration welcomes the recent normalization agreements between Israel and UN Member States in the Arab world, as well as Muslim-majority countries....The United States will continue to urge other countries to normalize relations with Israel, and we will look for other opportunities to expand cooperation between erstwhile adversaries." "Yet, we recognize that Arab-Israeli normalization is not a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians may not be the major fault line in the Middle East, but its resolution nevertheless would significantly benefit the region as a whole."