The lengthy delay in setting up the meeting has been widely interpreted in Israel as signs of U.S. displeasure with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government.
Protesters rally outside Tesla's Fremont, Calif., factory as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the facility and meets with businessman Elon Musk on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023.
“Meeting at the White House symbolizes close relations and friendship and honor, and the denial of that shows exactly the opposite,” said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israeli relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University.The White House was tight-lipped ahead of the Wednesday meeting, declining to offer much detail on what would be on Biden’s agenda for the talks.
Early this year, Biden voiced his unhappiness over the overhaul, saying Netanyahu “cannot continue down this road” and urging the Israeli leader to find a compromise. Netanyahu’s negotiations with the Israeli opposition have stalled and his coalition has moved ahead with its plan, pushing the first major piece of the legislation through parliament in July.
The meeting comes at a time of cooling ties between Israel and the Democratic Party. A poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that while Americans generally view Israel as a partner or ally, many are questioning whether Netanyahu’s government shares American values. Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to call Israel an ally with shared values.
But he predicted a good meeting devoid of “fireworks,” noting that Biden and Netanyahu are longtime friends and the countries are still close allies. “The relationship is as strong as it has ever been,” he said. Netanyahu, who also led Israel when former President Donald Trump brokered the “Abraham Accords” between Israel and four Arab countries, has said that a similar deal with Saudi Arabia would mark a “quantum leap” forward for Israel and the region.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden to meet Netanyahu in N.Y., but denies him long-sought White House visitPresident Biden will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the U.N. General Assembly Wednesday, but there is still no coveted White House invite on the horizon.
Read more »
2020 Biden voters in Pennsylvania weigh in on Hunter Biden, Biden impeachment inquiryLast week, Hunter Biden was indicted on a federal gun charge, and House Republicans announced an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
Read more »
Israeli-Palestinian violence surges ahead of Netanyahu-Biden meetingIsraeli troops killed a 19-year-old Palestinian during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, medics and residents said, as violence surged ahead of a first meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden.
Read more »
Biden, Netanyahu to discuss Saudi normalization, IranU.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday will hold their first face-to-face talks since Netanyahu took power in December, with topics expected to include a potential Israel-Saudi normalization deal and Iran.
Read more »
Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss 'integrated' Middle East and IranThe bilateral meeting comes amid tensions between the two leaders over Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan.
Read more »