Palestinian activists in the US have criticised the request reportedly made by the administration of US President Joe Biden that Israel temporarily halt actions in the occupied West Bank ahead of the president's visit next month, saying it highlights the "magnitude of this administration's weakness" and its inability to come up with a coherent policy towards Palestinians.
Axios reported the administration had asked Israel to halt home demolitions, evictions of Palestinians and any decisions on settlement building "until after Biden's visit" in mid-July.
"The Biden administration doesn't want us to create any crisis in the West Bank... They want quiet and calm" for Biden's visit, a senior Israeli official told Axios.
'It's kind of a wink and a nod to their partner, Israel, to lay low for a little bit'
- Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian novelist and activist
Several Palestinian-Americans told Middle East Eye that the remarks were not a surprise, and cemented in their view how the Biden administration and previous US governments view Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.