Amid growing tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, US President Joe Biden received King Abdullah II of Jordan for a private dinner.
This is the second meeting between the two leaders in less than a year and the third since Biden took office.
“The President reaffirmed his strong support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and recognized the crucial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, stressing the urgent need to preserve the historic Haram al – Status Quo Sharif/Temple Mount,” the White House said in a statement distributed after the meeting.
The White House said Biden and Abdullah discussed “opportunities and mechanisms to reduce tensions, particularly in the West Bank,” where recent events have sparked some of the bloodiest violence in years.
In recent weeks, at least 35 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces, and seven civilians were shot dead by a Palestinian outside a synagogue in Jerusalem on January 27.
