White House blasts Palestinian government's comments on United States
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
U.S. officials fired back Saturday following a conversation between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Abbas told Putin he didn't trust the United States or the Biden administration.
The White House was reportedly "deeply disappointed" in Abbas' remarks, said a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council.
Abbas told Putin during an international summit in Kazakhstan that Palestine was inherently mistrustful of the U.S., and that the country couldn't work as a mediator between Palestine and Israel. "Under no circumstances can we accept that America is the sole party in resolving a problem," Abbas added.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a statement, the NSC said, "President Biden ... has demonstrated U.S. commitment for decades to seeking creative solutions and working toward the lasting peace ... throughout the Middle East."
Sources reportedly told Axios that senior officials within the Biden administration were "furious" and made their anger clear to Abbas' advisors.
In addition to lambasting the U.S., Abbas also praised Putin for Russia's support of Palestine, claiming to be "happy and satisfied." He also spoke of Russia's commitment to "justice and international law," even as the country continues its months-long invasion of Ukraine.
The NSC responded, "Russia does NOT stand for justice and international law, as evidenced by the latest vote at the U.N. General Assembly."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
This standoff between the U.S. and Palestine comes just weeks after senior Palestinian officials were hosted in Washington, D.C., in a meeting that U.S. officials told The Times of Israel was mostly positive.
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
The ‘ravenous’ demand for Cornish mineralsUnder the Radar Growing need for critical minerals to power tech has intensified ‘appetite’ for lithium, which could be a ‘huge boon’ for local economy
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Ex-South Korean leader gets life sentence for insurrectionSpeed Read South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison over his declaration of martial law in 2024
-
Will increasing tensions with Iran boil over into war?Today’s Big Question President Donald Trump has recently been threatening the country
-
Rubio boosts Orbán ahead of Hungary electionSpeed Read Far-right nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is facing a tough re-election fight after many years in power
-
Alexei Navalny and Russia’s history of poisoningsThe Explainer ‘Precise’ and ‘deniable’, the Kremlin’s use of poison to silence critics has become a ’geopolitical signature flourish’
-
Key Bangladesh election returns old guard to powerSpeed Read The Bangladesh Nationalist Party claimed a decisive victory
-
US, Russia restart military dialogue as treaty endsSpeed Read New START was the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the countries
-
What happens now that the US-Russia nuclear treaty is expiring?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Weapons experts worry that the end of the New START treaty marks the beginning of a 21st-century atomic arms race
-
Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
