President Biden held a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House, addressing the ongoing tensions between the two countries. These tensions stem from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial plans to reform Israel’s judicial system and expand settlements in the West Bank. The meeting with Herzog, although mostly symbolic, allowed President Biden to reaffirm his support for Israel without explicitly embracing Netanyahu, whom he has not met with since taking office. “This friendship, I believe, is just simply unbreakable,” stated President Biden before the meeting.
Prior to Herzog’s visit, President Biden spoke with Netanyahu over the phone, inviting him to meet in the U.S. by the end of the year. During their conversation, President Biden expressed his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security but also voiced concerns about Netanyahu’s hard-right policies. It remains unclear whether Netanyahu will meet with President Biden at the White House.
President Biden has been critical of Netanyahu’s attempts to overhaul Israel’s independent judiciary and weaken the Supreme Court, which sparked widespread protests in Israel. He has also raised concerns about the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank. These concerns have not been alleviated by the invitation to Netanyahu, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
During the meeting, President Biden and Herzog discussed various issues, including preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Iran’s defense partnership with Russia, and the need for a consensus-based approach to the judicial reform package. They also agreed to work together to address antisemitism. President Biden reiterated his commitment to a negotiated two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and providing equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
In addition to his meeting with President Biden, Herzog planned to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He will also address Congress on Israel’s 75th year of independence, becoming the second Israeli president to do so.
Overall, the purpose of Herzog’s trip is to strengthen the partnership and relations between the U.S. and Israel, reflecting the deep ties between the two countries.
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