Washington, DC – U.S. President Joe Biden recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, following large-scale protests against Netanyahu during his visit to the American capital amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is likely to be the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming November elections, is also scheduled to meet with Netanyahu later today.
The meeting came after Netanyahu delivered a passionate defense of Israel’s military actions in Gaza during a speech before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. This conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 39,000 Palestinians and has created a humanitarian crisis. Several U.S. lawmakers chose to boycott Netanyahu’s address, while thousands of protesters gathered outside Congress to urge Washington to halt military aid to its “ironclad” Middle Eastern ally. Additional demonstrations occurred outside the White House on Thursday.
The Biden administration has continued to provide unwavering support to Israel during the Gaza conflict, including the approval of billions of dollars in military aid and significant diplomatic backing. According to American officials, Biden planned to pressure Netanyahu to finalize a three-step ceasefire agreement with Hamas, first proposed in May. Netanyahu expressed from the Oval Office before the meeting that he was “looking forward” to working with Biden, who recently announced he would not seek reelection in 2024. “I am looking forward to it as well,” Biden replied.
Before the meeting, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby indicated that he believed a ceasefire agreement in Gaza was nearing completion. “We believe that the gap can be narrowed,” Kirby stated in a video statement. He emphasized the urgency of bringing hostages home to their families, underlining the need for an established ceasefire to work toward halting hostilities in Gaza.
Biden and Netanyahu also met with the families of Americans who have been taken captive in Gaza before the Israeli Prime Minister’s meetings with Harris, who has been vocal about the humanitarian implications of the Gaza conflict. A senior administration official informed reporters that there is “no distance between the president and the vice president” regarding Israel, according to the Associated Press.
Al Jazeera journalist Alan Fisher reported from Washington, DC, that the White House has suggested that Biden—no longer seeking reelection—is expected to take a tougher stance toward Netanyahu than in the past. “While there were warm words during Netanyahu’s address to Congress, the reality is that Joe Biden and Netanyahu have disagreed on how the war has been conducted for quite some time,” Fisher explained.
Fisher anticipates that Biden will be significantly more critical of Netanyahu this time, considering his desire to secure a positive legacy. “He would like to see a ceasefire agreement—something he has been pushing for, and that his team has been negotiating,” he added.
Former President Donald Trump, a staunch supporter of Israel during his presidency, continues to play a considerable role in Netanyahu’s visit. The Israeli Prime Minister praised several of Trump’s actions during his address to Congress, including the so-called Abraham Accords, which established relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday, where he will seek to repair relations with the former president, who had previously criticized Netanyahu for acknowledging Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump stated on Fox News Thursday that it was “very nice” that Netanyahu mentioned him during his speech but added that Israel needs to act faster to end the war in Gaza to improve its “public image.” “Israel needs to handle their public relations. Their public relations are not good. The world is not taking it lightly,” said Trump, asserting that Hamas’ attacks on southern Israel on October 7 would not have occurred if he had still been in office.