It was unclear for a long time whether Biden and Netanyahu would meet during the Israeli Prime Minister’s trip to the US. Now there is a date. But Trump also wants to get involved.
Both US President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump want to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in separate meetings. Netanyahu is currently on a trip to the USA and wants to give a speech to Congress in Washington on Wednesday. The mood between Biden and Netanyahu has recently been tense because of the Gaza war.
Trump announced the meeting with Israel’s heads of government on his platform Truth Social. At first there was confusion about the day. In a first post, which Trump deleted, he wrote that it would take place on Wednesday. In another post by Trump, he said it would take place on Thursday. At Netanyahu’s request, Trump finally wrote that the meeting had been moved to Friday.
Trump presents himself as a president of peace
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was looking forward to welcoming Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. During his first term in office, peace and stability prevailed in the Middle East, the 78-year-old Republican added. The “deadly wars and violent conflicts” must end, Trump wrote, also referring to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. “Kamala Harris is in no way able to stop this,” the Republican emphasized, referring to Kamala Harris, Biden’s possible replacement candidate in the race for the White House.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, the White House published a new schedule for Biden, which included the meeting on Thursday. Because of Biden’s corona infection, it was unclear for a long time whether the two heads of government would actually meet. Originally, a meeting on Tuesday in the White House was on the table. However, Biden only made his way back to Washington today. He had previously isolated himself in his private home in the US state of Delaware because of his Covid illness.
Important appointment in Washington for Netanyahu
Netanyahu’s planned speech to parliament will include the Gaza war, which has been raging for more than nine months. Relatives of Israeli hostages who are accompanying Netanyahu on his US trip are also hoping for a possible announcement from the head of government about a ceasefire and the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. At a meeting with relatives, Netanyahu expressed cautious optimism. Around 120 hostages are believed to still be in the sealed-off coastal strip, but many of them are probably no longer alive. However, hopes of a deal in international mediation efforts have repeatedly been dashed.
Trump keeps making headlines with meetings
The Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to Washington comes amid the political turmoil in the United States following Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
Trump, who is in the middle of the hot phase of the election campaign, is constantly making headlines by receiving high-ranking state guests. Just recently, the Republican received Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at his residence.
