President Joe Biden said Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are ready to "fully recognize Israel" and called for a "post-Gaza plan" that would include a two-state solution, according to reports.
The president, speaking to reporters at a star-studded fundraiser Thursday in New York City attended by President Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, addressed concerns over the plight of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza during the war between Israel and Hamas.
"I won't go into detail now. But, look, I've been working with the Saudis and with all the other Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan and Qatar. They're prepared to fully recognize Israel, fully recognize Israel for the first time," Biden said, CNN reported.
"But there has to be a post-Gaza plan, and there has to be a train to a two-state solution, it doesn't have to occur today, but there has to be a progression, and I think we can do that," he continued.
The president's comments came as the gala at Radio City Music Hall was interrupted at least four times by pro-Palestinian protesters calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Obama defended Biden, who served as vice president during his two terms in the White House, telling the protesters "you can't just talk and not listen."
"He's willing to listen to all sides in this debate, and every other debate and try to see if we can find common ground," Obama said, Bloomberg reported. "That's the kind of president I want."
Biden has been under pressure to facilitate a cease-fire in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave, but relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have grown tense over Israel's fight against Hamas and the U.S. abstaining this week from a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a cease-fire.
Biden said there are "too many innocent victims" among Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing that more assistance must get into Gaza.
"But we're in a position where Israel's very existence is at stake. You had all those people massacred," he said about the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
"It's understandable Israel has such a profound anger and Hamas is still there, but we must in-act, stop the effort that is resulting in significant deaths of innocent civilians and particularly children," Biden said.
In 2002, a Saudi Arabia proposal endorsed by the Arab League's 22 members would recognize Israel in exchange for Israel withdrawing from some Arab territories it had occupied since 1967, according to the Middle East Monitor.
Negotiations over the deal continued until 2018 when Israel rejected it.
