Biden meets Palestinian leader ahead of Saudi visit

US President Joe Biden met Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank on Friday for talks expected to focus on economic measures without striking any major diplomatic breakthrough.

His arrival in Bethlehem comes ahead of a visit to Saudi Arabia, whose leaders on Friday changed aviation rules in an apparent gesture of openness towards Israel.

The president’s visit to the Saudi city of Jeddah will follow talks with Abbas, the latest high-level diplomatic meetings after those with the Israeli leadership on Thursday.

“These hospitals are the backbone of the Palestinian healthcare system,” he said, after talking extensively about his own family’s experience of emergency care.

They include an “additional $201 million” for the UN agency serving Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), a senior administration official said.

But Biden made clear on Thursday he had no plans to reverse the controversial move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by Trump, which infuriated Palestinians who see its eastern sector as the seat of their future state.

– ‘Side by side’ –

A muted welcome awaited him from Palestinians there.

“The visit is not about peace, it is about Israel. Many people are angry because he said he was a Zionist.”

Biden on Thursday reiterated Washington’s support for “a two-state solution for two people, both of whom have deep and ancient roots in this land.”

The Israeli government has recently adopted an approach known as “shrinking the conflict”, taking economic measures such as increasing the number of permits for Palestinians to work in Israel.

– Next stop, Jeddah –

Iran’s nuclear programme and its support for Islamist groups such as Hamas, which rules Gaza, was the focal point of Thursday’s talks.

Washington is currently trying to get the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers back on track, after it was derailed by Trump’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018.

Following the visit to the West Bank, Biden will fly from Israel to Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia.

“I thank the Saudi leadership for the opening of Saudi airspace. This is only the first step,” added the premier, as Israel presses for closer regional ties.

The US president is expected to meet Arab leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council, who are gathering in the Saudi city of Jeddah, to discuss volatile oil prices.