Biden must condemn MENA leaders’ rights abuses in visit to region: Amnesty International

US President Joe Biden must speak out against human rights violations by Middle Eastern leaders during his ongoing visit to the region, Amnesty International said Wednesday.

Biden must "press for immediate and substantive change" from the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia, the human rights group said in a press release.

The US president must call Israel to task for its "system of apartheid against Palestinians", including the construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank, unlawful killings, and bombing campaigns, Amnesty said.

He should also speak out on the Palestinian authorities’ repression of freedom of expression, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia must be called out for their attempts to cover up their systemic human rights abuses, it added.

"President Biden must seize this opportunity to prioritise the advancement of human rights over short-term interests, and make clear that there can be no double standards when it comes to promoting human rights," said Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International USA Executive Director.

"If the US continues on its current course, it will only embolden abusive governments to further silence dissenting voices, oppress minorities and ruthlessly crush the rights of millions of people in the region," he added.

Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday, and will also head to the occupied Palestinian territories and Saudi Arabia.

In an op-ed for the Washington Post last week, Biden said “fundamental freedoms are always on the agenda” and will be during this trip.

He has been condemned by human rights advocates and US lawmakers for backpedaling on his vow to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" state over the 2018 murder of dissident Saudi journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi.