Opinion | It is President Joe Biden at his best: Will like-minded Xi be embraced as humanitarian partner?

By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

The war between Israel and Hamas broke out last week, catching the world by surprise. President Joe Biden postpones trip to discuss serious domestic agenda – as Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies.

While Chinese President Xi Jinping receives leaders from emerging economies visiting Beijing for the Belt and Road Initiative meeting, FM Wang Yi, said the Israeli military response and retaliation "has gone too far."

The U.S. president was ready to denounce Hamas and declare support for Israel. Joe Biden was quick to stress the need for humanitarian support – for civilians in distress on both sides while there were protests in New York and San Francisco in support of oppressed Palestinians.

Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region –and affirmed his support for his efforts to protect civilians.

Meanwhile, the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the U.S. was moving up a second carrier strike group – in support of Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond – to rally an international response – to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding.

The broad U.S. efforts reflect the international concern – about the number of civilians at risk and the potential ramifications of a prolonged war as Israel told Gaza residents to move south and Hamas urged people to remain in their homes.

The Biden administration has not publicly urged Israel to restrain its response – after the Hamas attacked a week ago.

Addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday in Washington, Biden linked the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to different versions of hate – that he said must be stopped.

"A week ago, we saw hate manifest another way – in the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust," Biden said, citing the 1,300 lives lost in Israel as well as "children, grandparents alike kidnapped, held hostage by Hamas."

"The humanitarian crisis in Gaza – innocent Palestinian families and the vast majority that have nothing to do with Hamas – they're being used as human shields," he said. "We have to reject hate in every form."

Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates – as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis.

He also called his Chinese counterpart – as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive.

While Biden has spoken to Netanyahu multiple times since the Hamas attack, Saturday's call was his first to Abbas, who runs the Palestinian Authority which controls the West Bank. According to a readout of the call, Abbas briefed the president on efforts to bring aid to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza.

Biden reiterated to Abbas that "Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination," according to the readout.

Biden spoke with Netanyahu to "reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Israel," according to the readout. He briefed the Israeli leader on regional efforts to ensure civilian access to food, water and medical care.

Blinken, in his visits with Saudi and UAE leaders, also cited the need for humanitarian assistance and safe passage from those who wish to leave Gaza as he spoke to Arab audiences from their home turf.

Blinken also called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to seek his country's help in preventing the war from spreading, asking Beijing to use whatever influence it has in the Mideast. The U.S. believes it and China have a shared interest in the region's stability, according to a spokesman.

In Riyadh, Blinken and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of minimizing the harm to civilians as Israel prepared for an anticipated incursion against Hamas a week after the militant group's unprecedented attack against Israel.

"As Israel pursues its legitimate right, to defending its people and to trying to ensure that this never happens again, it is vitally important – that all of us look out for civilians, and we're working together to do exactly that," Blinken said.

"None of us want to see suffering by civilians on any side, whether it's in Israel, whether it's anywhere else," Blinken said.

The Saudi minister said the kingdom was committed to the protection of civilians.

"It's a disturbing situation," he said. "It's a very difficult situation. And, as you know, the primary sufferers of this situation are civilians, and civilian populations on both sides are being affected and it's important, I think, that we all condemn the targeting of civilians in any form at any time by anyone."

A U.S. official said Saturday that Washington did not ask Israel to slow or hold off on the evacuation plan. The official said the discussions with Israel leaders did stress the importance of considering the safety of civilians – as Israel's military moved to enforce the evacuation demand. (Source: MDT/AP)

CONCLUSION

It is Joe Biden, the rational U.S. president's best when he stresses that the safety of civilians should be well-taken care of – in anticipation of Israel's military to enforce the evacuation demand.

This time, though, the world's critics do not seem to buy the media theory that Israel was "provoked" by Hamas; they put the blame on the U.S. and Israel – for not bringing a permanent peace to the region as the Palestinians are losing land, property to the Israelis. In the historic dispute between Palestine and Israel, the latter has been building and expanding a state on Palestinian land!

Such is China's unwavering perspective and unambiguous policy. And China has called for all concerned parties to immediately help stop the violence. And sit down for a permanent diplomatic solution.

Will Joe Biden be willing to embrace Xi's pragmatic proposal? Xi is enviously receiving world leaders in Beijing, and his red star is rising.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com

Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:

Opinion | US high-level visits raise hope for China-US ties: Schumer's meeting with Xi tops them all

Opinion | Should President Xi be in meeting? Consider the American senators already in Beijing