The State Department will prioritize pushing Israel to end its controversial policy of demolishing the homes of terrorists, a spokesperson said Thursday, with the US’s top diplomat already bringing the issue up with senior officials in Israel.
The comments from State Department spokesman Ned Price came hours after the administration of US President Joe Biden leveled rare criticism at Israel for razing of the home of a Palestinian-American suspected in a deadly West Bank shooting attack, marking a likely point of friction amid efforts between Washington and Jerusalem to rehabilitate ties.
“We attach a good deal of priority to this, knowing that the home of an entire family shouldn’t be demolished for the action of one individual,” Price said when asked about the matter at a daily press briefing, adding that the US would continue to raise its concerns “as long as this practice continues.”
Price’s comment appeared to reflect a shift from previous administrations, which had not made as large an issue out of Israeli home demolitions.
“There is a critical need to lower the temperature in the West Bank. Punitive demolitions exacerbate tensions at a time when everyone should be focused on principally ensuring calm,” Price said.
A Hebrew-language report Thursday indicated that Foreign Minister Yair Lapid had not been aware of the looming demolition.
Channel 13 reported that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett did not update Lapid before it moved forward, after days of delay attributed to US objections over the matter.
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