The meeting between President Joe Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took place on September 20 in New York. This was their first meeting since Netanyahu returned to office late last year. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, covered various bilateral and regional issues, including the normalization of relations with Riyadh.
President Biden began the bilateral meeting by acknowledging his long-standing relationship with Netanyahu. He emphasized that they would discuss challenging topics, such as defending democratic values, preserving the path to a negotiated two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
In March, President Biden stated that he would not invite Netanyahu to the White House in the near future due to the Israeli leader’s attempt to reform the judiciary system. In a CNN interview in July, President Biden referred to Netanyahu’s Cabinet as extreme. The White House expressed concerns about Netanyahu’s proposed overhaul of the judiciary system, as critics argued it could disrupt the balance of power and undermine democracy in the country.
During the bilateral meeting, President Biden reassured his commitment to Israel, stating that the country is essential for the security of Jews worldwide. Netanyahu expressed his desire to meet again in Washington by the end of the year. Both leaders emphasized their shared goal of a more stable and prosperous Middle East and highlighted the recently agreed-upon economic corridor connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe.
President Biden also expressed hope for the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, acknowledging the progress made through the Abraham Accords that normalized ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The Biden administration is actively encouraging a Saudi-Israeli agreement, believing it could bring about significant positive changes in the region. However, experts suggest that reaching such an agreement may take several years due to the complexity of the situation.