Biden's National Security Advisor Visits the West Bank Amid White House's Call for Minimizing Civilian Losses
Biden's national security adviser visits West Bank to show unwavering US support for Israel's fight against Hamas, while urging Israeli government to prioritize civilian safety in Gaza
Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, is set to visit the West Bank on Friday to show ongoing US support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. At the same time, he will urge the Israeli government to take concrete actions to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza. According to a US official, Sullivan will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah during the second day of his visit to the region, following his discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials on Thursday.
The official stated that Sullivan will be discussing current initiatives to promote stability in the West Bank. This includes efforts to combat terrorism, support for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces through the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, ongoing efforts to reform the Palestinian Authority, and measures to hold extremist settlers accountable for violence against Palestinians. Additionally, Vice President Kamala Harris' national security adviser, Phil Gordon, recently met with Abbas and other Palestinian leaders.
The governing body in the West Bank is the Palestinian Authority, while Hamas controls Gaza and positions itself as an alternative to the PA. Sullivan's meeting with Abbas coincides with the public disagreement between Biden and Netanyahu regarding the Palestinian Authority's governance in Gaza after Israel's conflict with Hamas concludes. The US has advocated for the Palestinian Authority to take on governance in Gaza post-conflict, but Netanyahu has consistently opposed this notion.
Sullivan's second visit to Israel follows the deadly Hamas attack on October 7th. President Biden has been openly urging the Israeli government to take more decisive action to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza and to reconsider their tough stance. During a speech on prescription drug prices at the National Institutes of Health, the president was asked if he supports the Israeli government scaling back its strikes against Hamas in Gaza.
Biden responded, "I want them to prioritize saving civilian lives. It's not about stopping going after Hamas, but being more cautious."
Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people, including Israelis and foreign nationals, in their attack on Israel on October 7. In the Israeli response, over 18,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.
