Israel, Laken Riley feature in Biden's State of the Union speech
By Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw and Nandita Bose
(Reuters) -President Joe Biden on Thursday attacked former President Donald Trump's vision for America, criticized Israel and was challenged on immigration in his last State of the Union address before the two men face off in the November U.S. election.
Here are some takeaways from the State of the Union address on Thursday.
TOUGH WORDS FOR ISRAEL
Biden issued a sharp directive to Israel's leaders, telling them not to hold up humanitarian aid to Palestinians for political purposes.
«To the leadership of Israel I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,» Biden said. «Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to this situation is a two-state solution.»
Biden has faced increasing pressure from fellow Democrats over his support for Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
«I’ve been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last for six weeks,» he said, reiterating U.S. policy but using the word «ceasefire» that his administration once shied away from.
LAKEN RILEY AND IMMIGRATION
Goaded by Trump-allied Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden went off script to address the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia, who was allegedly murdered last month by an undocumented immigrant who had been released on parole.
Republicans, who blame Biden and his administration's border policies for the deaths of Americans killed by illegal migrants, have seized on Riley's death as a symbol of Democrats' failure.
«It's about Laken Riley,» shouted Greene during the speech, interrupting Biden as he
Read more on investing.com
