"Jerusalem Post": Biden considers visiting Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem without escorting Israeli officials

Biden is considering visiting a Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem without escorting Israeli officials, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The Jerusalem Post reported that U.S. President Joe Biden accepted on April 24 Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's invitation to visit Tel Aviv.

An Israeli source said on Monday that U.S. President Joe Biden was considering visiting Makassed Hospital, the largest Palestinian medical center in East Jerusalem, during a planned visit next month, as part of a U.S. initiative for the hospital.

The source stated that Biden would visit the hospital without accompanying Israeli officials, who would be seen as not recognizing Israeli sovereignty over that part of the capital.

No previous United States Presidents have undertaken similar visits.

The Israeli newspaper noted that although the Biden administration had sought to strengthen Israel's current coalition government, the visit indicating the partition of Jerusalem was likely to spark differences within the coalition.

The visit was part of a US initiative for the hospital, which could mean renewed funding after former President Donald Trump's administration cut $25 million to the East Jerusalem hospital network.

In addition, an Israeli official told CNN that the US President was considering visiting East Jerusalem during his upcoming visit to Israel.

Biden's visit to the predominantly Palestinian area of the city, occupied by Israel in 1967, was likely to be seen as a gesture of support for Palestinians.

The Israeli official warned that Biden could visit the Makassed Hospital, which provides medical services to Palestinians, including residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Biden: Putin's steps are very thoughtful, but I'm afraid Russia may not find a way out of the crisis in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden said he was trying to figure out how to move forward in a situation where, in his view, Russia might not have a way out of the crisis in Ukraine.

In a meeting with representatives of the Democratic Party, Biden expressed concern that "Russia may currently have no way out [of the crisis in Ukraine]."

1. "I'm trying to figure out what we can do about it," Reuters reported.
2. At the same time, Biden called the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin "very thoughtful."
3. According to the US leader, "Putin thinks he can divide NATO, and he thinks he can divide the EU."