On Thursday, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened to address the remaining “gaps” in their efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a White House statement.
Their meeting took place a day after Netanyahu delivered a passionate address to Congress, while thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside. Facing mounting pressure to end the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, now in its ninth month, Netanyahu emphasized his long-standing relationship with Biden, noting that the president has known every Israeli Prime Minister over the past 50 years.
“From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish-American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Biden on the major issues facing them in the coming months. Biden, in turn, quipped that he had first met Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and had Yitzhak Rabin as an assistant during that period.
Their meeting comes amid ongoing strain over the Gaza conflict. In May, according to former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Biden reached a breaking point, stating “enough is enough.” Biden had previously threatened to restrict weapons shipments if Israel carried out a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah, which provoked a strong reaction from Israel. In response, Netanyahu described the idea of the Biden administration withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel as “inconceivable.”
Mr. Netanyahu also expressed his anticipation of collaborating with Mr. Biden “on the great issues before us” in the coming months.
The US president humorously noted that Golda Meir was the first Israeli Prime Minister he had met, and Yitzhak Rabin, her successor, was present as an assistant.
Their meeting comes after months of friction over the Gaza conflict. According to Chuck Hagel, a former defense secretary and friend of Biden, the president reached a critical point in May, declaring “enough is enough.”
Biden had previously threatened to halt weapons shipments if Israel conducted a major ground offensive in Rafah, which caused significant backlash in Israel. In June, Mr. Netanyahu described it as “inconceivable” for the Biden administration “to withhold weapons and ammunition from Israel.”
During a news briefing, national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu addressed several critical issues, including the urgent need for a deal on releasing hostages, the risk of the conflict spreading into Lebanon, the threat posed by Iran, and the necessity of reaching “compromises” in peace negotiations.
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Kirby also mentioned that while “gaps remain” in the US-Israel relationship, the two countries maintain a “healthy relationship.”
“By healthy, I mean they won’t agree on every issue,” Mr. Kirby explained, noting that Mr. Biden was “very comfortable with the relationship he has with the prime minister.”
The US and Israeli leaders also conducted a private session with the families of seven American citizens who remain hostage in Gaza, held by Hamas. Following the meeting, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui was abducted from Kibbutz Near Oz on October 7, described the meeting as “productive and honest,” though he refrained from sharing specifics.
“We feel probably more optimistic than we have since the first round of releases in late November, early December,” he said.
Mr. Netanyahu also had a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is expected to be the Democratic nominee following President Biden’s announcement of his withdrawal from the re-election race. During his speech in the House chamber on Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions in Gaza while seeking to garner support from US legislators.
“Our enemies are your enemies,” Mr. Netanyahu stated, labeling protesters as “Iran’s useful idiots.” The White House rebutted Mr. Netanyahu’s comments, with spokesperson John Kirby clarifying that “it’s not a phrase we would use” and does not reflect their view of the “mostly peaceful” demonstrations. Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists had gathered in Washington, accusing Mr. Netanyahu of being a “war criminal.”
Their loudspeakers and chants were clearly audible from the White House as Mr. Netanyahu arrived on Thursday. Police arrested 23 individuals, including five inside the Capitol building.
During Mr. Netanyahu’s speech, he received enthusiastic applause from Republicans, although the address highlighted the growing political divide in Washington over the Gaza conflict. The war has intensified rifts within the Democratic Party, with its progressive members vocally criticizing U.S. support for Israel.
Vice President Kamala Harris did not attend Mr. Netanyahu’s speech due to scheduling conflicts, the White House reported. Instead, she engaged with a crowd from the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta. While Ms. Harris has shown strong support for Israel, this position has proven politically challenging for the Democrats.
Hundreds of thousands of protest votes were cast against Mr. Biden during the presidential primaries by those demanding an end to military aid to Israel. Among those dissatisfied with his stance on the war, some view Ms. Harris as a potential means to heal the rift within the party and regain support.
Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday.
(Includes inputs from online sources)
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