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Biden Calls for a тАШLasting Negotiated PeaceтАЩ Between Israel and Palestinians

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JERUSALEM тАФ President Biden called on Thursday for a тАЬlasting negotiated peace between the State of Israel and the Palestinian peopleтАЭ and reiterated his calls for a two-state solution to the conflict.

Israel тАЬmust remain an independent, democratic Jewish state,тАЭ Mr. Biden said at a news conference in Jerusalem after meeting with the countryтАЩs prime minister, Yair Lapid, during a four-day visit to the Middle East. тАЬThe best way to achieve that remains a two-state solution.тАЭ

Before the presidentтАЩs arrival on Wednesday, the Israeli government had made several small gestures to the Palestinians, including granting some new work permits for Gazans. But while Mr. Biden will visit President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Bethlehem on Friday, restoring communications that were cut off during the Trump presidency, there are few expectations that the visit will bring progress in resolving the dispute.

For years, Palestinians have questioned WashingtonтАЩs ability to neutrally mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, citing strong American support for Israel at the United Nations and the size of U.S. financial and military support to Israel, which has cumulatively received more American aid than any other country since World War II.

Palestinians have been also disappointed by Mr. BidenтАЩs failure to reverse several measures taken by the Trump administration that Palestinians felt were harmful to their hopes of independence.

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