Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday thanked President Biden for his support for Israel during his more than 50-year career in Washington, glossing over in public their recent friction over civilian deaths in Gaza.
Speaking at the White House, where Mr. Netanyahu arrived to discuss Israel’s war against Hamas and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Israeli leader hailed Mr. Biden as a friend to the Jewish state.
“From a proud Jewish zionist to a proud Irish American zionist, I want to thank you for your 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
Mr. Biden has been under intense pressure from the left wing of his party to force a ceasefire in Gaza and put a halt to the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli military. The issue led to a tense phone call between the two leaders in April, and prompted Mr. Biden to vow to halt temporarily the delivery of heavy bombs to Israel.
That move, in turn, resulted in Mr. Netanyahu releasing a video statement saying it was “inconceivable” that the U.S. had been “withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel.”
Mr. Netanyahu addressed Congress on Wednesday and urged lawmakers to keep providing Israel with military aid, as pro-Palestinian protesters swarmed Union Station near the Capitol, flying Palestinian flags and burning American flags.
The meeting with Mr. Netanyahu was Mr. Biden’s first with a foreign leader since he bowed out of the presidential race Sunday and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination.
Ms. Harris, who did not attend his speech to Congress, will meet with Netanyahu separately later Thursday.
Mr. Netanyahu’s visit comes as efforts continue to secure a ceasefire and a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli prime minister is facing a growing backlash both at home and abroad over his handling of the war with Hamas.
The families of hostages held in Gaza have been demanding Mr. Netanyahu reach a deal to bring their loved ones, who were kidnapped last Oct. 7.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu will talk “in depth about the developments in Gaza and the negotiations on the ceasefire and hostage release deal,” a senior administration official told reporters.
The official said the administration believes talks are in the “closing stages” and “reaching the point that we believe a deal is closable.”
“It’s time to move to close that agreement,” the official said.
The two leaders will also discuss the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, the official said.
Mr. Netanyahu told reporters that Mr. Biden has known every Israeli prime minister going back to Gold Meir, who served from 1969 to 1974.
In response, the 81-year-old U.S. president joked that he met her when he was “twelve years old.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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