‘Biden Doctrine’ demands a demilitarized Palestinian state, says NYT’s Thomas Friedman

Other pillars of the ‘Biden Doctrine’ as outlined by Friedman include taking a strong stance against Iran and fully normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

New York Times journalist with ties to the Biden Administration, Thomas Friedman outlined a “Biden Doctrine” which includes pushing for a demilitarized Palestinian State.

In a NYT piece, Friedman discussed a main requirement for a so-called “Biden Doctrine” which would be an “unprecedented U.S. diplomatic initiative to promote a Palestinian state — NOW!”

Friedman continued, “It would involve some form of U.S. recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would come into being only once Palestinians had developed a set of defined, credible institutions and security capabilities to ensure that this state was viable and that it could never threaten Israel.”

He added, “Biden administration officials have been consulting experts inside and outside the U.S. government about different forms this recognition of Palestinian statehood might take.”

The other pillars of  “the Biden Doctrine” as outlined by Friedman include taking a strong stance against Iran and fully normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.

Friedman’s piece follows a report by Axios that the US State Department is discussing the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian State at the conclusion of the war with Gaza.

During a Wednesday press briefing, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller is “actively pursuing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state – with real security guarantees for Israel.”

He added, “We do believe that is the best way to bring about lasting peace and security for Israel, for Palestinians, and for the region.”

Miller further commented that this isn’t a new position but has always been US policy.

“There has been no policy shift in the administration. We have made quite clear publicly that we support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”

In late January, it was reported by CNN that in a phone conversation with President Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not intend to “foreclose on the idea of a Palestinian State.”

However, at an event in Tel Aviv, he said he hadn’t agreed to establish a Palestinian State.

“In any future arrangement … Israel needs security control all territory west of Jordan.”

He added, “This clashes with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty.”