Tense truce talks: Netanyahu, Biden discuss approach to ending nine-month Gaza fighting

AFP | Washington

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he was ready to work with Joe Biden for the rest of his presidency, as the two leaders met for the first time at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire. “I want to thank you for the 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said after they shook hands in the historic setting of the Oval Office. “And I look forward to discussing with you today and working with you in the months ahead.” Biden stunned the world Sunday when he announced that he was bowing out of the US presidential election, with Vice President Kamala Harris now set to be the Democratic Party’s candidate. Netanyahu will also meet Harris separately at the White House, in a reflection of the new political reality that will see Biden as a lame duck president for his remaining six months in office. The Harris meeting comes amid speculation that if she wins in November it could herald a tougher approach on Israel’s war in Gaza.

Support

Relations between Biden and Netanyahu are tense over Israel’s conduct in the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks, but the US president has continued strong military and political support. They have met just three times during his presidency, once in September last year in New York, and then when Biden traveled to Israel after the attacks and hugged Netanyahu on the airport tarmac at Tel Aviv. The meetings come after Netanyahu vowed “total victory” against Hamas in a fiery speech Wednesday to the US Congress. Biden and Netanyahu will later meet the families of US hostages held in Gaza.

Police presence

The White House was surrounded by metal barriers and a heavy police presence, after protests broke out near the Capitol following Netanyahu’s speech. Harris yesterday condemned the “despicable” and “unpatriotic” burning of an American flag by protesters, after attempts by Donald Trump’s Republicans to paint Democrats as pro-Hamas. In a primetime speech explaining his decision on Sunday to bow out of the US presidential election, Biden made clear that resolving the conflict would remain a top priority. “I’m going to keep working to end the war on Gaza, bring home all the hostages to bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war,” the US president said.

Negotiations

A senior US administration official said Wednesday that negotiations on a Gaza deal were in the “closing stages” and that Biden would try to close some “final gaps” with Netanyahu. Harris has previously been more outspoken about Israel’s conduct of the war, prompting speculation she will shift her policy as presidential nominee. The US official said there was “no daylight between the president and vice president”, who will meet Netanyahu at 4:30 pm (2030 GMT). Netanyahu will meet Republican contender Donald Trump today at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.