The White House said that US President Joe Biden, during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a negotiated two-state solution and emphasized the importance of improving security and the economic situation in the West Bank.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, as well as growing defense ties between Tehran and Moscow, the White House said.
The White House statement said Biden and Herzog also discussed “the need for a consensus-based approach” to a package of judicial amendments proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Tuesday, Biden and Duke reaffirmed the strength of relations between their two countries at a meeting at the White House, despite tensions between the United States and the Netanyahu government over settlements and civil rights.
And a number of Democrat members of the US Congress said they would not attend a meeting of Congress on Wednesday, which will be addressed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, because of the “Netanyahu government’s track record in the field of human rights.”
At a meeting in the Oval Office, Biden told Duke that America’s commitment to Israel was “unwavering and unwavering.” Biden added that the two countries are “working together to promote stability and integration in the Middle East,” as he put it.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead,” the US president said. “We have a lot to do, but there is progress.”
The office of President of the State of Israel held by the Duke is largely ceremonial. The Duke praised the US President, calling him a “great friend” of Israel.
“There are some of our enemies who are sometimes mistaken that we may have some differences that affect our inseparable bond,” Herzog said.
He also said that he had discussed several issues with Biden, including the Iranian nuclear threat and the internal situation in Israel. After the meeting, Herzog added: “We discussed many issues, including the Iranian nuclear threat. Of course, we also discussed internal issues in Israel and how important they are to the world.”
Relations between the two countries have been strained by the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and a judicial amendment that the Netanyahu government is trying to approve and has been criticized by Israeli protesters for months.
Herzog also met with Vice President Kamla Harris and is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Biden and Herzog last met at the White House last October. Netanyahu returned to power in December.
On Monday, Biden invited Netanyahu to pay an official visit to the United States later this year.
Biden delayed issuing the invitation over settlement concerns and a planned amendment that critics say would strip the Israeli Supreme Court of many of its powers. The amendment plan sparked months of anti-government protests in Israel. Protests also took place on Tuesday.
