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Foreign media: Netanyahu will visit the US to meet Biden amid tensions between the US and Israel

2024-07-21

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[Global Times Report] According to reports from AFP, The Times of Israel, The Guardian and other media, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on the 21st saying that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will fly to the United States on the 22nd and meet with US President Biden on the 23rd.

Netanyahu, file photo, source: The Times of Israel

The Guardian mentioned that Netanyahu criticized the United States for delaying the supply of weapons to Israel last month, highlighting the tension between the two countries. The Times of Israel said that there was news that Netanyahu was expected to meet with Biden on the 22nd, but now the meeting between the two has been postponed to the 23rd, possibly because Biden tested positive for the new coronavirus a few days ago.

Biden, file photo, source: The New York Times

Earlier this month, US media reported that Biden will meet with Netanyahu. According to a report by Axios on July 2, a White House official said that Biden is expected to meet with Netanyahu, who is visiting the United States, later this month. Axios said at the time that the background of Netanyahu's visit to the United States was that "US-Israel relations are becoming increasingly tense due to a new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

According to previous reports by The Times of Israel, The Hill and other media, Netanyahu posted a video on social media on June 18, in which he accused the US of withholding weapons and ammunition provided to Israel in the past few months, saying "this is incredible". In response, White House press secretary Karina Jean-Pierre said at a press conference later that day, "We really don't know what he is talking about", "a batch of ammunition shipments have been suspended", and "there have been no other suspensions or withholdings".

According to a report by Axios News on June 19, sources said that Netanyahu's video speech about the United States "withholding weapons aid to Israel" angered Biden's advisers. The report also stated that two US officials said that the White House decided to cancel the high-level US-Israel meeting originally scheduled for the 20th of the same month. However, another official said that due to scheduling issues, the meeting was postponed and not canceled. Regarding the relationship between the Biden team and the Netanyahu team, Axios News Network stated on June 19 that "it is more tense than at any time since the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out on October 7 last year."

On June 26, Israeli Defense Minister Galant concluded his visit to the United States, during which he met with senior U.S. officials. Galant said after meeting with U.S. President's National Security Advisor Sullivan on the 26th that the two sides had made progress on a number of issues, including arms supply. Axios News Network released an "exclusive news" on the 27th of the same month, saying that a U.S. official and an Israeli official told the media that the Biden administration is expected to deliver a batch of bombs to Israel soon. These bombs are part of the aid weapons that the United States had previously suspended from delivering to Israel. In response, Axios News Network said that this shows that the White House hopes to ease tensions between Biden and those who support Israel.