Israel Both Biden and Trump want to meet Netanyahu
Both US President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump want to hold separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is currently on a trip to the USA and plans to address Congress in Washington on Wednesday. The atmosphere between Biden and Netanyahu has recently been tense due to the Gaza war.
Trump announced the meeting with Israel's heads of government on his Truth Social platform. Initially, there was confusion about the date. In an initial post, which Trump deleted again, he wrote Wednesday. In another post, Trump then referred to Thursday. At Netanyahu's request, the meeting was moved to Friday, Trump finally wrote.
Trump presents himself as the president of peace
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was delighted to be able to welcome Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. During his first term in office, peace and stability prevailed in the Middle East, the 78-year-old Republican added. The "deadly wars and violent conflicts" must come to an end, Trump also wrote with regard to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. "Kamala Harris is in no position to stop this", the Republican emphasized with regard to the possible replacement candidate for Biden in the race for the White House, Kamala Harris.
Shortly after Trump's announcement, the White House published a new schedule for Biden, which included the meeting on Thursday. Due to Biden's coronavirus infection, it was unclear for a long time whether the two heads of government would actually meet. Originally, a meeting was scheduled for this Tuesday at the White House. However, Biden only made his way back to Washington today. He had previously isolated himself in his private home in the US state of Delaware due to his Covid illness.
Important appointment in Washington for Netanyahu
Netanyahu's planned speech to parliament is to address the Gaza war, which has been raging for more than nine months, among other things. Relatives of Israeli hostages accompanying Netanyahu on his US trip are also hoping for a possible announcement by the head of government about a ceasefire and the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. At a meeting with relatives, Netanyahu had expressed cautious optimism. Around 120 hostages are still believed to be in the cordoned-off coastal strip, but many of them are probably no longer alive. However, hopes of a deal during international mediation efforts have been dashed time and again.
Trump repeatedly makes headlines with meeting
The Israeli Prime Minister's visit to Washington comes amid the political turmoil in the US following Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race.
Trump, who is in the middle of the hot phase of the election campaign, repeatedly makes headlines by receiving high-ranking state guests. Just recently, the Republican received Hungary's head of government Viktor Orban at his estate.
