Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu has met at the White House to address the remaining issues in negotiating a Gaza ceasefire.
This meeting followed Netanyahu’s speech to Congress amidst large pro-Palestinian protests outside.
Facing domestic and international pressure to end the nine-month Israel-Gaza conflict, Netanyahu highlighted his long-standing relationship with Biden and the president’s enduring support for Israel.
He expressed eagerness to collaborate with Biden on key issues in the coming months.
Biden reminisced about his first meeting with an Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, noting that Yitzhak Rabin was her assistant at the time.
The discussions occurred against a backdrop of months of tension over the Gaza war, with Biden previously threatening to withhold weapons shipments if Israel launched a large-scale ground offensive in Rafah.
The national security spokesman, John Kirby indicated that the leaders discussed the urgent need for a hostage release deal, the potential for conflict to spread to Lebanon, the threat from Iran, and the necessity for compromises in peace negotiations.
The two leaders also met privately with the families of seven US citizens held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Following this meeting, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son was kidnapped, described the discussion as “productive and honest,” expressing cautious optimism.
Netanyahu also met with Vice-President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee following Biden’s decision not to seek re-election.
During his address to Congress, Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions in Gaza and sought support from US politicians while criticizing the pro-Palestinian protesters.
The White House distanced itself from Netanyahu’s harsh description of the protesters, with Kirby emphasizing that it did not reflect their view of the mainly peaceful demonstrations.
Protests in Washington accused Netanyahu of war crimes, with loud chants heard from the White House during his visit. Police arrested 23 protesters, including some inside the Capitol.
Netanyahu’s speech received enthusiastic applause, mainly from Republicans, highlighting the deepening political divides over the Gaza conflict.
Source: BBC
