Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Putin Concludes High-Level Talks With Trump Envoy on Ending Ukraine Conflict 
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Medicaid Funding Restrictions Targeting Planned Parenthood 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Trump Administration Plans Major Rollback of Biden-Era Fuel Economy Standards 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
US President Joe Biden drew some criticism over his previous comments regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict that is still going on today that included involvement from the militant group Hamas. Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US leader is still committed to seeing a two-state solution between both nations.
Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Blinken said that Biden is still committed to a two-state solution for both nations. Blinken cited that it is the only solution not only to ensure the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state but also to give Palestinians the state that they rightfully deserve. Blinken also cited Biden’s efforts that led to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after 11 days of fighting that resulted in over 200 Palestinians dead and over a dozen Israelis dead as well.
“Look, ultimately it is the only way to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state, and of course, the only way to give the Palestinians the state to which they’re entitled,” said Blinken. “That’s where we have to go,”
“But that, I don’t think, is something necessarily for today,” the Secretary of State added. “We have to start putting in place the conditions that would allow both sides to engage in a meaningful and positive way toward two states.”
The long-running conflict between Israel and Palestine also appears to have a slim chance of getting resolved anytime soon. Blinken said that the violence will likely repeat itself if there is no path to help Palestinians move forward, noting that Israel also has a part to play in this effort.
Meanwhile, over 500 Democratic party staff and alumni of Biden’s 2020 election campaign have now written a letter urging Biden to do more in protecting Palestinians and to hold Israel accountable after its airstrikes that killed over 200 Palestinians. The letter also comes amidst a splintering among the ranks in the Democratic Party between progressives and centrists.
Biden is already being pressed to take a firmer stance against Israel after the recent violence in the region. The signatories of the letter commended Biden’s effort to call for a ceasefire. However, they are also urging Biden to continue wielding his executive power as the US leader to hold Israel accountable and bring justice to the Palestinian deaths.
