Biden Invites Netanyahu to Visit the United States

A statement issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, Monday, indicated that U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Netanyahu for an official visit to Washington. The statement added that the two sides held "long and friendly" discussions focused on curbing threats from Iran and its proxies, as well as enhancing cooperation between the two countries. Netanyahu informed the U.S. president that he would attempt to build a "broad public consensus" regarding the judicial reform bill. John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, pointed out that Biden still has concerns about the judicial reforms and "some of the extreme activities and behaviors carried out by members of Netanyahu's government." Kirby said, "These concerns remain. They are troubling," adding, "We want to see Israel thriving and enjoying democracy as much as possible, which means developing programs, implementing reforms, and making changes based on compromise and the broadest possible consensus." Kirby noted that Biden and Netanyahu also discussed efforts to confront Iran's nuclear program, with Biden emphasizing the need to advance the two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians and enhance security in the West Bank. Biden had previously postponed the invitation due to concerns over the judicial reform bill proposed by Netanyahu and his right-wing government, as well as Israel's continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.