Biden and Netanyahu Set for Key White House Meeting as US Election Looms

US President Joe Biden is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this Thursday, according to a US official. This meeting, the first with a foreign leader since Biden announced he would not seek reelection, comes as both leaders are navigating significant challenges.

Biden, who has been recovering from COVID-19 at his Delaware beach house, plans to return to Washington on Tuesday. His meeting with Netanyahu follows the Israeli Prime Minister’s address to a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday. The leaders are expected to discuss potential cease-fire strategies between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza alongside other pressing issues like Iran.

This pivotal engagement also precedes a separate meeting between Netanyahu and Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden has endorsed as his successor for the Democratic presidential nomination. A Harris aide indicated that she would emphasize the need for a resolution to the Gaza conflict that ensures Israel’s security, the release of all hostages, and addresses the suffering of Palestinian civilians.