US President Joe Biden (R) shakes fingers with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu throughout a gathering within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024. (AFP)
WASHINGTON – US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree a Gaza ceasefire Thursday, with pleasant greetings masking tense ties in addition to questions over Biden’s relevance.
Simply days after the 81-year-old Biden’s gorgeous announcement that he wouldn’t search reelection, he and Netanyahu placed on a good-humored present of their first assembly on the White Home throughout Biden’s presidency.
“From a proud Zionist Jew to a proud Zionist Irish American, I need to thanks for 50 years of public service and 50 years of assist for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu mentioned in tribute to Biden initially of the Oval Workplace assembly.
“And I look ahead to discussing with you in the present day and dealing with you within the months forward.”
However Netanyahu, 74, additionally met individually with Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris — reflecting the brand new political actuality of Biden being a lame duck for the subsequent six months.
Harris has been extra outspoken on Gaza previously and there was hypothesis that she may undertake a harder method on Israel. Officers deny there’s any “daylight” between her and Biden.
“We now have quite a bit to speak about,” Harris mentioned as they shook fingers. Netanyahu replied: “We do certainly.”
‘Compromise’
The White Home mentioned Biden would maintain pushing for a ceasefire and hostage launch deal between Israel and Hamas, a doubtlessly legacy-defining achievement if it occurs.
Biden’s administration mentioned it nonetheless believed that Netanyahu was prepared for an settlement regardless of a fiery speech to the US Congress on Wednesday during which he vowed “whole victory” in opposition to Hamas.
“The president might be reaffirming for Prime Minister Netanyahu that he believes we have to get there, and we have to get there quickly,” Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby informed reporters.
“We will obtain a deal, but it surely’s going to require, because it all the time does, some management, some compromise.”
Biden and Netanyahu later met the households of US hostages held in Gaza, who referred to as the assembly “productive and sincere.”
“We really feel in all probability extra optimistic than we’ve because the first spherical of releases in late November,” Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the daddy of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, informed reporters after the assembly.
Protesters chanted slogans exterior a hoop of steel obstacles erected across the White Home, following rowdy protests throughout Netanyahu’s speech to lawmakers.
Harris on Thursday condemned the “despicable” and “unpatriotic” burning of an American flag by protesters, after makes an attempt by Donald Trump’s Republicans to color Democrats as pro-Hamas.
‘Last gaps’
Whereas Biden has saved navy assist flowing to Israel since Hamas’s October 7 assaults, relations with Netanyahu have been deeply strained by Israel’s conduct throughout the battle and suspicions that he could also be stalling on a deal.
A senior US administration official mentioned Wednesday that negotiations on a Gaza settlement had been within the “closing phases” and that Biden would attempt to shut some “closing gaps” with Netanyahu.
In a primetime speech on Wednesday explaining his choice to bow out of the election, Biden mentioned he would “maintain working to finish the battle on Gaza.”
However in an additional signal of Biden’s diminishing relevance, and Netanyahu’s dedication to play each side, the Israeli PM will even meet Trump in Florida on Friday.
The ex-president on Thursday urged Israel to shortly “end up” its battle in Gaza, warning its world picture was being tarnished.
The Hamas assault on October 7 resulted within the deaths of 1,197 individuals in Israel, most of them civilians, based on an AFP tally based mostly on official Israeli figures.
Out of 251 individuals taken hostage that day, 111 are nonetheless being held contained in the Gaza Strip, together with 39 who the navy says are lifeless.
Greater than 39,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s navy marketing campaign within the Gaza Strip because the battle started, based on knowledge offered by the well being ministry of Hamas-run Gaza, which doesn’t give particulars of civilian and militant deaths.
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