President Biden recently held a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House. The leaders discussed various issues including the ongoing conflict with Lebanon, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the Israelis held captive by Hamas.
In the aftermath of their conversation, which lasted approximately an hour, Herzog labeled the meeting as highly constructive. He assured reporters of the Biden administration’s commitment to bolstering Israel’s security until Biden’s tenure ends on January 20th.
Describing the interaction with the U.S. President, Herzog said that Biden was amiable, receptive, and candid. The key takeaway from their discussion was Biden’s promise to work tirelessly until the end of his term to achieve objectives crucial to peace, stability, and above all, Israel’s security in the Middle East.
While visiting the Oval Office, Herzog presented Biden with a unique gift, an artifact from the base of Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Herzog mourned the loss of two Israeli citizens killed by rockets launched from Lebanon in the Israeli city of Nahariya. He also labelled Iran an “evil empire.”
Herzog emphasized the need to secure the return of the hostages held by Hamas. He also mentioned that the Israeli government is facing a deadline to increase aid to Gaza or face potential backlash. The Biden administration had previously cautioned Israel in October that if it did not substantially augment aid to Gaza, it could lead to limitations on U.S. military assistance.
The Biden administration is keen on advancing peace initiatives before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly had three conversations with Trump in the past week. Trump also announced his pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel – former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Trump praised Huckabee in a statement, stating that his love for Israel and his public service record make him an excellent choice for fostering peace in the Middle East.
The article was written by Kathryn Watson, a Washington, D.C. based politics reporter for CBS News Digital.
