Biden warns visa bans for West Bank ‘extremists harming civilians’

A Saturday op-ed by President Joe Biden condemned West Bank violence, hinting that the US will block visas.

In the Washington Post, Biden stated, “I have been emphatic with Israel's leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop and that those committing the violence must be held accountable “The US is prepared to take our own steps, including visa bans against extremists striking civilians in the West Bank.”

The president warned Israel about breaking the Visa Waiver Program, which lets qualifying individuals enter the US without a visa. Program member Israel joined late October.

In the op-ed, Biden rejected calls for a Gaza truce, as he has since the Israel-Hamas conflict began last month. The president called for a two-state solution and Palestinian Authority rule in the meanwhile.

As the administration's supplementary request stalls, the White House's latest op-ed reminds Americans that foreign conflicts affect US national security.

Biden added, “Both Putin and Hamas are fighting to wipe a neighboring democracy off the map. "And both Putin and Hamas hope to collapse regional stability and integration and profit from the chaos."

“America won't allow that. For our national security and the world's, he added.

He said, “We can’t stand by when hate rears its head.” “We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate and bias. We must quit violence and hatred and see each other as fellow Americans.”