US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday, a US official said Monday.
Biden has been battling COVID-19 since last Wednesday and will return to Washington on Tuesday from his beach home in Delaware. Netanyahu will address a joint consultation of the United States Congress on Wednesday.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to discuss tactics to achieve a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, as well as between Iran and other issues.
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Earlier this week, the Israeli Prime Minister posted in X: “When I left for the United States, I thanked President Biden for the many things he did for the State of Israel during the war and his years as president, vice president, and senator. I look forward to my vital meeting with the President.
“I’m leaving for the United States at a time when Israel is fighting on seven fronts and there’s a lot of political uncertainty in Washington. This will be my fourth visit to either chamber of Congress as Prime Minister of Israel. I will seek to consolidate the two-party system that is vital for Israel,” he added.
The Israeli prime minister congratulated the commander-in-chief of the White House: “This will be an opportunity to thank him for what he has done for Israel during the war and his long and outstanding career in public service as a senator, vice president and president. It will also be an opportunity to talk to him about how to move forward in the critical months ahead. . . »
It will be Biden’s first meeting with a foreign leader since he decided not to run and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor as the Democratic presidential nominee.
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Harris is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu this week, in addition to Biden’s meeting.
An aide to Harris said she would emphasize to Netanyahu that it is time for the standoff in Gaza to end in a way where “Israel is safe, all hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza ends and the rest of the Palestinians can enjoy. “their right. ” dignity, freedom and self-determination.