Netanyahu, meeting today with Biden and Kamala Harris

2024-07-25 08:31:01, Kosova & Bota CNA

Netanyahu, meeting today with Biden and Kamala Harris

US President Joe Biden during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023. Source, AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be at the White House on Thursday, July 25, where he will meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who has expressed her intention to run for president. . These meetings will take place at an important moment for the three politicians.

Netanyahu's visit to the White House - the first since former President Donald Trump ended his term in 2020 - comes as pressure mounts on the three leaders to find a solution to the nine-month war that has left more than 39,000 dead. in Gaza. Also, dozens of Israeli hostages, and the remains of others who died in captivity, are still being held by Hamas, the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

Biden is asking Israel and Hamas to agree on his proposal, which would see the release of hostages still being held in Gaza, through three phases.

White House officials have said that negotiations are in the final stages, but there are still some issues that need to be resolved.

After the talks, Biden and Netanyahu will meet with the families of the American hostages.

Harris, who will then meet separately with Netanyahu, is seeking to demonstrate that she has the skills to serve as commander-in-chief. She is also under scrutiny from left-wing politicians who say Biden has not done enough to force Netanyahu to end the war, and Republicans are aiming to portray Harris as a politician who has not given enough support to Israel.

A senior US administration official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the president and vice president have no differences when it comes to Israel.

The last time Harris and Netanyahu held a bilateral meeting was in March 2021, but she has participated in over 20 phone calls between Biden and Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is also in a political moment yesterday. He is facing pressure from the families of the hostages in Israel, who are demanding a cease-fire agreement that would allow their family members to be released. Meanwhile, far-right members of his ruling coalition are urging the Israeli leader not to accept any deal that would prevent Israeli troops from eliminating Hamas.

A day earlier, Netanyahu gave a speech to the US Congress, where he said his country's war against Iran-backed Hamas "is keeping US troops off the ground and protecting our common interests in the Middle East".

"Remember: Our enemies are also your enemies. Our fight is your fight. Our victory will also be your victory," he told US lawmakers.

During the speech, Netanyahu praised Biden for his support after the October 7 attack, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and kidnapped 250 others.

During the speech, Netanyahu also cited actions taken by Trump during his presidency that have benefited Israel, including recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, fighting Iran's aggression and moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Florida on Friday, where he will meet with the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump./ REL