Israeli-Palestinian Violence Draws Biden Back to Middle East

U.S. President Joe Biden is under pressure to address the spiraling violence between Israel and Palestinians, as fresh rounds of fighting intensified this week, killing more than 50 Palestinians and at least seven Israelis.

The escalation, triggered by tensions over holy sites and anger over the expulsion of Palestinian families from occupied east Jerusalem by Jewish settlers, is the most intense since the seven-week 2014 Israeli war on Gaza. Biden addressed the issue in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. "My expectation, my hope, is that this will be closing down sooner than later," Biden said to reporters, adding that Israel has a right to defend itself.