President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Thursday under growing pressure for a permanent cease fire in the Middle East.
They shook hands and took their seats, exchanging pleasantries in the Oval Office. They did respond to multiple questions from journalists.
The two leaders are meeting amid increasing pressure to end the nine-month war in the Middle East that’s left more than 39,000 dead in Gaza. Dozens of Israeli hostages remain in Hamas captivity.
The administration believes that a deal ‘is in the closing stages and it’s reaching a point that we believe a deal is closable, and it’s time to move to close that agreement,’ a senior administration official told reporters on Wednesday.
‘We’re closer than we’ve ever been,’ the official noted. ‘It’s up to the Israelis to accept it.’
President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office
Biden is trying to end the war before his term of office expires. If he does it before the November election, it could be a boost for Vice President Kamala Harris, who he endorsed as the Democratic nominee.
Harris will have a separate meeting with Netanyahu later Thursday afternoon.
The prime minister, meanwhile, is walking his own delicate line between those Israelis who want him to end the war and have their loved ones returns and those far-right members of his governing coalition who demand he resist any deal that would keep Israeli forces from eliminating Hamas.
This will be the first time the two will meet in person since Biden visited Israel shortly after Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7.
The White House prepared for the visit by putting up concrete blocks and anti-climbing fencing to ward off protesters. When Netanyahu spoke on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, protesters clashed with U.S. Capitol Police, who had barricades up around the Capitol.
They also painted graffiti along Union Station, which sits a few blocks from the Capitol building. They ripped down the American flag to fly the Palestinian one.
Biden and Netanyahu have had a tense relationship as the president has repeatedly warned him about civilian casualties in the Gaza strip. Additionally, many progressives are furious with Israel’s conduct during the war. Several Democratic lawmakers skipped Netanyahu’s speech in the Capitol on Wednesday in protest.
Netanyahu attacked pro-Palestinian protesters in the U.S. in his remarks, calling them ‘ Iran‘s useful idiots.’
‘Some of these protesters hold up signs proclaiming, ‘Gays for Gaza,” he said. ‘They might as well hold up signs saying, ‘Chickens for KFC.’ These protesters chant, ‘From the river to the sea,’ but many don’t have a clue what river and what sea they’re talking about.’
Workers put up additional security fencing around the White House ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit
Members of the Secret Service stand guard as workers put up additional security fencing around the White House
It was Netanyahu’s first White House visit since Donald Trump was president. The Israeli PM plans to meet with Trump on Friday at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago home.
And it’s Biden’s first meeting with a foreign leader since he announced he’s exiting the 2024 presidential race.
After meeting in the Oval Office, the two leaders will meet with the families of American hostages in Gaza.
In his address to Congress, Netanyahu offered a fiery defense of Israel‘s conduct during the war and lashed out against accusations by the International Criminal Court of Israeli war crimes.
He thanked President Biden for his support and also noted all Trump had done for Israel.
‘As we defend ourselves on all fronts, I know that America has our back and I thank you for it – all sides of the aisle,’ Netanyahu said.
Harris missed Netanyahu’s speech because of a previously scheduled event in Indianapolis. Typically, the vice president presides over joint addresses.
