Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently in Washington, awaiting the confirmation of the location, day, and time for his meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. They plan to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and the bilateral relations between the United States and Israel.
Although the U.S. presidential protocol has assured Netanyahu’s staff of upcoming meetings, these will only take place after his speech at the Capitol. As negotiations continue for a ceasefire in Gaza, which includes securing the release of 120 hostages held there, Biden and Harris aim to hear Netanyahu’s address before finalizing any official discussions.
Biden and Harris are cautious about appearing to endorse Netanyahu’s presentation at the Capitol, which could complicate ongoing peace negotiations involving the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. Initially, Biden was set to meet with Netanyahu on Monday. However, due to his COVID-19 diagnosis, he remained at his summer residence in Delaware, postponing their planned meeting, which was initially scheduled for Tuesday in the White House. Biden has communicated that he will only arrive in Washington on Tuesday night.
Netanyahu had assumed that his meeting with Biden would take place on Wednesday before his speech. However, a sensitive report indicated that the Israeli Prime Minister intended to present new demands to Hamas, possibly outside the existing peace initiatives. Biden has called for a closure to these discussions, with White House sources stating they are “on the brink” of a six-week ceasefire.
Consequently, the presidential protocol informed Netanyahu’s team that his meeting with Biden would be postponed to Thursday, just a day after his speech at the Capitol.
Additionally, Netanyahu requested to meet with Harris, believing they could connect at the Congressional event before his address. However, Harris’s office clarified that she had a campaign event in Indianapolis on Wednesday, meaning their potential meeting would also have to be delayed until Thursday.
However, this delay raises a significant point: Senator Harris, as the Senate’s presiding official, would not be present during Netanyahu’s speech at the Capitol. Both Biden and Harris are prioritizing a peace agreement in the Middle East, hoping for a ceasefire that lasts at least six weeks to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas.
If they were to meet Netanyahu prior to his address and he were to make new demands for guarantees from Hamas, it could jeopardize the delicate negotiations currently in progress. Given these concerns, they chose to postpone their meetings.
Moreover, Netanyahu sought a meeting with former President Donald Trump, who currently has a campaign event in North Carolina. Trump will be available Thursday morning, but it is unclear if he will travel to Washington. Notably, Trump’s ally, Senator J.D. Vance, will also be absent from the Capitol during Netanyahu’s address due to a conflicting campaign event.
As a result, Netanyahu’s agenda remains uncertain and postponed until Thursday. On that day, he will learn whether he can meet with Biden, Harris, and Trump, or if he will return to Jerusalem without any significant outcomes.
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