The White House announced today, Thursday, that U.S. President Joe Biden will host Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on July 18. The two leaders will discuss issues including Israel’s regional integration and Russia’s military relations with Iran. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stated that "Biden will reaffirm the importance of our shared democratic values and discuss ways to support fair measures for freedom, prosperity, and security for both Palestinians and Israelis."
The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Herzog is also scheduled to deliver a speech at a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress during his visit to Washington. This trip comes after a period of increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious nationalist government has faced criticism from the Biden administration over the resumption of Jewish settlement construction.
Netanyahu has not yet been welcomed at the White House despite winning a sixth term, which is unprecedented in Israel. Biden, during an interview with CNN on Sunday, declined to disclose whether an invitation would be extended to Netanyahu. He stated in the interview, "I think (Netanyahu) is trying... to solve his current problems from the perspective of his coalition," describing Netanyahu's government as "one of the governments I have seen with the highest number of extremist members."
Following Biden’s comments on Sunday, Israeli far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir questioned on Twitter, "What exactly is extreme in my case?" He added, "President Biden needs to understand that we are not a star on the American flag anymore."
