Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will remain the United States’ strongest ally in the Middle East no matter who becomes the next U.S. president. He made this statement before heading to Washington to address the U.S. Congress.
This trip is Netanyahu’s first to the U.S. since he returned as prime minister at the end of 2022. His visit comes at a time when President Joe Biden has announced that he will not seek reelection. Netanyahu plans to thank Biden for his support for Israel and discuss various issues such as securing the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, dealing with Hamas, and addressing threats from Iran.
A meeting with Biden is planned for Tuesday, depending on the president’s recovery from Covid-19. Netanyahu is scheduled to speak to Congress on Wednesday. He emphasized the strong and enduring alliance between the U.S. and Israel, stating that this relationship remains crucial, especially during times of conflict and uncertainty.
Netanyahu aims to strengthen bipartisan support for Israel during his visit. His upcoming speech to Congress will likely focus on coordinating U.S. and Israeli responses to the ongoing situation in the Middle East and preventing the Gaza conflict from escalating further.
This speech is expected to be less confrontational than Netanyahu’s 2015 address to Congress, where he criticized President Obama’s efforts for a nuclear deal with Iran.
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Netanyahu has faced criticism from the U.S. for not resuming talks with the Palestinians and for threats of withholding arms. The invitation for Netanyahu to speak in Congress was arranged by Republican leaders, who believe Biden has not shown enough support for Israel.
There are no plans for Netanyahu to meet with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, despite their previous close relationship. Trump has recently criticized Netanyahu and called for a quick end to the Gaza war.
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