Biden Speaks to Netanyahu, Hopes Mideast Violence to End Soon

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was hopeful that the cycle of violence in Palestine would end soon.

"My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later," Biden said at the White House.

Biden stated that 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.

The President had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which 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.”

Violence erupted last Friday at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque amid growing anger over the potential eviction of Palestinians from homes on land claimed by Israeli settlers. The clashes escalated on Monday.

Meantime, Israeli forces Thursday killed a Palestinian near Madama village, south of Nablus city, according to the Health Ministry.

The Israeli military claimed that the slain Palestinian purportedly drove his vehicle to a military roadblock and opened fire towards the soldiers, injuring two before being gunned down.

Palestinian medics were prevented from providing treatment to Mohammad Najjar, who was in a serious condition. Najjar’s body is still withheld by the military.