The president of the United States, Joe Biden, announced this Friday the delivery of 100 million dollars to the Palestinian hospital network during his visit to occupied East Jerusalem, guaranteeing that he wants to continue cooperating with the Palestinian leadership.
“Today I am pleased to announce that the United States will contribute $100 million [cerca de 99,6 milhões de euros] to support hospitals and their staff who work for the Palestinian people,” Biden said in an emotional speech in which he made several references to his own family history and past as a patient.
As specified, the aid package represents “a multi-year commitment of resources and expertise.”
“We hope that these 100 million dollars generate large contributions from other countrieswith a focus on the health of the Palestinian people so that they continue to have access to the best care available,” Biden added, in the first visit by a US president to East Jerusalem beyond the Old City.
Arriving at the hospital where he spoke, Biden’s entourage passed a group of dozens of Palestinian protesters carrying flags and banners bearing slogans such as “Palestinian Lives Matter.”
Some also held posters bearing the image of American-Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, killed during an Israeli strike in the occupied West Bank and for whom Palestinians are demanding justice and a careful American investigation.
Biden arrived at the hospital accompanied by members of his delegation but without Israeli officials, which, according to the local press, generated controversy, since the area is disputed by Israel, which occupied it in 1967, and by Palestine, which considers East Jerusalem be the capital of your future state.
Biden is scheduled to meet this morning with the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, in Bethlehem, West Bank.
In recent months, Biden has been the subject of growing criticism within the PNA for not having been able to reopen the US consulate for Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem, after it was closed by his predecessor, Donald Trump (2017-2021), and for not having taken more forceful measures against the Israeli expansion in occupied territory, which Biden formally opposed.
In his speech on Friday, the US president said his administration remains willing to “continue to work with Palestinian leaders” and with the Israeli government and other international partners “to ensure that the East Jerusalem hospital network remains sustainable” and can provide high-quality services. -quality care.
Palestinians and Israelis deserve the same measures of freedom, security, prosperity, and dignity, and access to health care when they need it is essential to a life of dignity for all,” the President said.
After his meeting with Abbas, Biden will end his official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory, which began on Wednesday, and will fly to Saudi Arabia to continue his tour of the Middle East.
Source: Observadora
