"I’ve been working with the Saudis and with all the other Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan and Qatar. They’re prepared to fully recognize Israel. There has to be a post-Gaza plan, and there has to be a trade to a two-state solution. It doesn’t have to occur today. It has to be a progression and I think we can do that," Biden said.
The US president's statement came as the Biden administration "quietly" approved the transfer of billions of dollars in bombs and fighter jets to Israel, amid Tel Aviv's plans to launch a military offensive in southern Gaza that could threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
Biden’s announcement reflects "a longstanding position rather than a novel development," Dr. Imad Salamey, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at the Lebanese American University, said in an interview with Sputnik.
"The crux of the issue remains Israel's reluctance to acknowledge a Palestinian state as per these terms. This impasse underscores the complexity of achieving peace and mutual recognition in the region," the political scientist stressed.