The White House's condemnation of the Israeli government on Tuesday night reverberated through international headlines. The cause of this diplomatic tension? The demolition of two residential apartments located in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of East Jerusalem. These buildings, it was revealed, were constructed without the requisite permits and were owned by a Palestinian family.

In a press briefing, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed concern, stating that "Israel and the Palestinian Authority must avoid unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undermine efforts to advance negotiations on a two-state solution. This includes the practicalities of demolishing and forcibly evicting families from homes where they have lived for generations.” However, Miller's statement seemingly overlooked the legality of these structures, which, as part of the municipality of Jerusalem, must adhere to the same rules as any other building in the city.

U.S. taxpayer funds should not go to foreign entities who partner with terrorist organizations openly seeking to slaughter Jews & destroy Israel, period.

It is unacceptable that the Biden Administration continues to do this. https://t.co/IFFDDtFhsn

— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) September 29, 2023

Responding to another query, Miller emphasized, "We have long recognized Israel's right to defend itself and to take actions to secure its territory. We support the two-state solution, and this commitment will persist for anyone on either side of this protracted conflict who holds a different position. We are actively taking steps to improve the dignity and economic situation of the Palestinian people, ultimately working towards a two-state solution."

This critical stance on what might appear to be legitimate actions by Israel forms part of the Biden administration's evolving rhetoric regarding Israel. Back in June, John Kirby, the White House spokesman for foreign affairs and security, expressed ongoing concerns to Israel regarding construction in Judea and Samaria. He stated, "We do not want to see actions that will make the two-state solution more difficult to achieve or actions that increase tensions.”

Moreover, the previous month, the administration had condemned the decision to re-regulate the settlement of Homesh. Kirby emphasized, "We are very disturbed by the Israeli government's decision to allow its residents to establish a permanent presence in the Homesh outpost - something that is inconsistent with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's commitment to former President George Bush and contradicts the commitments of the current Israeli government to the Biden administration.”

"Both leaks, the lawmakers write, have the hallmarks of an Iranian intelligence operation and 'may indicate that [the] Islamic Republic's intelligence apparatus has been able somehow to obtain access to restricted U.S. State Department emails.'"https://t.co/kMDroqfE2A

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) September 27, 2023

This rhetorical shift aligns with a recent report in "Israel Hayom," which indicated growing frustration, both within Israel and among senior Saudi officials, with the American administration's intense focus on the Palestinian issue. This focus is part of the broader efforts to reach a tripartite agreement involving Riyadh, Washington, and Jerusalem. Sources familiar with the details contend that the Biden administration's intense preoccupation with this issue hinders the progress of the normalization process and delays a potential breakthrough.