US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was hopeful that a cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians would end soon, after a phone conversation he had with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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"My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself," Biden told reporters at the White House.
Washington announced Wednesday that it was dispatching an envoy, Hady Amr, for talks with Israel and Palestinians in an attempt the quell the violence.
Biden did not explain the reasons behind his optimism. He said his national security team had been in frequent contact with counterparts in Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to try to bring about a resolution of the conflict.
A White House statement about the Biden-Netanyahu talks said Biden condemned rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups against the Israeli home front and "conveyed his unwavering support for Israel's security and for Israel's legitimate right to defend itself and its people while protecting civilians.
"He also conveyed the United States' encouragement of a pathway toward restoring a sustainable calm. He shared his conviction that Jerusalem, a city of such importance to people of faith from around the world, must be a place of peace," the statement said.
The two leaders agreed to stay in touch personally in the days ahead and to maintain close consultation between their teams, the statement said.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated on Wednesday the United States' "ironclad support" for Israel's right to defend itself in a call with his Israeli counterpart, the Pentagon said.
"Secretary Austin conveyed the Department's ironclad support for Israel's legitimate right to defend itself and its people, and he strongly condemned the launching of rockets by Hamas and other [terrorist] groups," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Austin "reiterated the importance of all involved parties to take steps to restore calm," Kirby added.
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley also spoke with his Israeli counterpart, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi.
A US military statement said the "two discussed the current security situation," but did not elaborate.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also spoke with Netanyahu on Wednesday and "expressed his concerns regarding the barrage of rocket attacks on Israel, his condolences for the lives lost as a result, and the United States' strong support for Israel's right to defend itself.
"The secretary and the prime minister discussed the ongoing violence in Jerusalem, and the secretary reiterated his call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and bring a halt to the violence," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
Blinken "emphasized the need for Israelis and Palestinians to be able to live in safety and security, as well as enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity, and democracy. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged the steadfast partnership between the United States and Israel and committed to working together on challenges ahead," Price said.
Blinken later called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and "expressed his condolences for the lives lost" as a result of the violence. He also condemned rocket fire from Gaza and "emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions and bring the current violence to an end," Price said in a seperate statement.
"The secretary also expressed his belief that Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security and prosperity," the readout says, parroting a new favorite talking point of the Biden administration.
Blinken conveyed his best wishes to Abbas for Eid al Fitr and expressed hope that peace and calm would prevail, the readout said.
Also on Wednesday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the White House says.
"They discussed their shared concerns about the current situation in Gaza and Jerusalem. Mr. Sullivan made clear that the ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas into Israel are unacceptable and must end. They discussed their ongoing outreach to relevant parties in support of efforts to achieve calm, and agreed to remain in close touch in the period ahead," according to the readout.
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