Netanyahu supports Biden’s push for a groundbreaking peace agreement with Saudi Arabia.
President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Pledge to Forge Diplomatic Relations Between Israel and Saudi Arabia
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Wednesday to work together toward a landmark agreement to forge diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Meeting for the first time since Netanyahu returned to power in December, both leaders signaled a desire to ease strains in their relationship, but Biden also made clear he was determined to discuss their differences.
These included Biden’s opposition to Netanyahu‘s controversial judicial overhaul plan as well as his concern about Israel’s hard line toward the Palestinians.
“I hope we can get some things settled today,” Biden said at the start of the talks sitting side-by-side with Netanyahu in a New York hotel ballroom.
A White House statement issued after the meeting said Biden “reiterated his concern about any fundamental changes to Israel’s democratic system, absent the broadest possible consensus.”
Biden also called for “immediate measures to improve the security and economic situation, maintain the viability of a two-state solution, and promote a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement said.
Instead of a meeting at the White House, the more prestigious venue preferred by Netanyahu, the two leaders ended up arranging their talks while both attended the annual high-level U.N. General Assembly. Biden invited Netanyahu to visit Washington before the end of the year.
Biden reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and also repeated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
But the biggest issue on the agenda was a U.S.-led push to forge diplomatic relations between longtime foes Israel and Saudi Arabia, the centerpiece of broader complex negotiations that involve U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear help sought by Riyadh as well as Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.
“I think that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” Netanyahu said. He said “such a peace would go a long way first to advance the end of the Arab-Israeli conflict, achieve reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state and advance a genuine peace between Israel and the Palestinians.”
Netanyahu said they could work together to make history.
“Together,” Biden repeated, signaling his commitment to the normalization effort, which he said would have been unthinkable years ago.
A senior Biden administration official told reporters after the meeting that it was understood that some concessions to the Palestinians must be part of any deal but did not say what those might be.
The official said a normalization deal is still a long way away and that all the leaders involved will have to do “some very hard things” to reach agreement. ”There’s some way to travel before we get there,” the official.
Biden and Netanyahu spent some time meeting one-on-one without advisers, the official added.
White House Snub
Netanyahu had expected an earlier U.S. visit given his long history of dealing with American presidents and Washington’s close alliance with Israel, but Biden had resisted.
Netanyahu did not get a meeting in the early months of the Biden White House in 2021 and was then ousted from power. He returned to power in December as head of a coalition of religious and ultranationalist parties.
Instead, Biden welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog, a largely ceremonial post, to the White House in July to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding.
The talks with Netanyahu were seen as an opportunity for Biden to brief him and try to discern how far Israel would be willing to go in what has been billed as a potential grand bargain that could reshape geopolitics in the Middle East.
Netanyahu‘s government has shown little willingness to make major concessions to the Palestinians, which could make it hard for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to agree on normalization.
While U.S. officials insist any breakthrough is far away, they privately tout the potential benefits, including removing a possible flashpoint in the Arab-Israeli conflict, strengthening the regional bulwark against Iran, and countering China’s inroads in the Gulf. Biden would also score a foreign policy win as he seeks re-election in November 2024.
David Makovsky, a longtime Middle East watcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noted in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the meeting was occurring “265 days after Netanyahu took office, the longest such gap since 1964.”
“The Saudi deal’s enormous potential has left Biden & Netanyahu little choice but to meet despite differences,” he said.
(Reporting By Steve Holland; additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Emily Rose, and Susan Heavey; writing by Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland; editing by Howard Goller and Grant McCool)
What does the one-on-one discussion without advisers present during the meeting signify about the importance of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel
T the White House visit he had hoped for, which is considered a high honor in diplomatic relations. Instead, the meeting took place at a New York hotel ballroom, a less prestigious venue. Despite this, both leaders expressed their commitment to working together towards a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
President Biden emphasized his concerns about certain policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu, such as the judicial overhaul plan and Israel’s approach towards the Palestinians. He called for immediate measures to improve security, the economic situation, and to maintain the viability of a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The central issue on the agenda was the U.S.-led effort to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This initiative involves negotiations on U.S. security guarantees, civilian nuclear help sought by Riyadh, and Israeli concessions to the Palestinians. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed optimism about the possibility of achieving peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the potential for reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state.
President Biden reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and supporting a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He expressed his willingness to work alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu in the pursuit of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
However, it was made clear that reaching a normalization deal will require difficult negotiations, and concessions from all parties involved, including the Palestinians. A senior Biden administration official indicated that some concessions to the Palestinians must be part of any deal, although the specifics were not mentioned.
The meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu also included a one-on-one discussion without advisers present. This personal interaction reflects the importance both leaders place on forging strong diplomatic relations.
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Netanyahu had anticipated an earlier visit to the United States, given his long history of dealing with American presidents and the close alliance between the two countries. However, President Biden’s decision to hold the meeting at a less prestigious venue may be seen as a diplomatic snub.
In conclusion, the pledge made by President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu to forge diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia represents a significant step towards peace in the region. Despite their differences, both leaders demonstrated a commitment to working together. The journey towards a normalization agreement will require difficult negotiations and concessions, but the potential benefits for the Arab-Israeli conflict, regional reconciliation, and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians make it a worthwhile endeavor.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...