WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister of Benjamin Netanyahu Will visit Washington this week A rich one It comes at a time of intense political flux in the US between the two allies and Netanyahu’s wariness among US leaders History tampered with itself In American domestic politics.
The main purpose of Netanyahu’s visit was to address a joint session of Congress. But at stake, in meetings with administration officials, is hope for progress in U.S.-led efforts to mediate an end to the nine-month Israel-Hamas war. The visit comes as the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza approaches 40,000. It also comes in a week in which new deaths were reported among the remaining hostages – who include Israelis, Americans and other nationals – held by Hamas and other militants since the first hours of the war.
Netanyahu planned his trip weeks before the ground suddenly began to heat up in American politics this summer. These include the July 13 assassination attempt against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Sunday’s abandonment of President Joe Biden’s failed re-election campaign to instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
Protests are planned for Netanyahu’s planned speech in both houses of Congress on Wednesday.
A Glimpse of Arrival:
Israel’s leader visits the US capital in a high-profile test of diplomacy, politics and security.
Why is Netanyahu coming?
Netanyahu’s political side is that his popularity has plummeted at home, and the visit – at least at first – was seen as an opportunity for him to present himself as a global politician, a close ally of Israel and welcomed by the world’s lawmakers and leaders. Superpower only.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson It helped bring Netanyahu’s speech to lawmakers, highlighting staunch Republican support for the Israeli leader. Despite the administration’s military and diplomatic support for Israel’s war, Netanyahu had tense relations with Biden.
Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet on Thursday, a US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the White House announcement. Harris will also meet with Netanyahu separately later that day. It was still uncertain Tuesday whether he would meet with Trump.
Speaking on behalf of the White House at a security conference in Colorado last week, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden plans to focus on what the United States, Israel and others need to do to free the hostages. A ceasefire agreement will be signed in the coming weeks.
“I think we’re on the verge of ending the war,” Biden called a meeting of campaign staff on Monday.
For his part, Netanyahu pointed to long-term problems before flying out of Israel on Monday. He said he wanted to talk with Biden about continuing the war against Hamas, confronting Iran-backed armed groups in the region and freeing hostages.
Why Netanyahu’s Visit Is Controversial
Israel’s war is deeply divisive in America, sparking protests and arrests on college campuses, alienating some voters on both sides of the issue and frustrating months of Biden’s efforts to end the conflict.
This is Netanyahu’s first trip abroad since the outbreak of war on October 7. It was his first trip since the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest for what it said were possible war crimes in Israel’s attack on Gaza. Israel denies wrongdoing, and the US does not recognize the ICC.
Netanyahu faces complaints in Israel Avoiding the conclusion of a cease-fire and hostage-release agreement An allegation was made Monday by a relative of one of the hostages to stay in power.
Netanyahu has also not been shy about criticizing democratic administrations. Including Biden. In 2015, the Israeli leader used a speech to both houses of Congress to try to gain public support for President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. He denounced it as a bad and risky deal, infuriating administration officials.
Sullivan said this week that administration officials don’t expect a repeat of 2015.
Time for Netanyahu
Looks bad. Even as Netanyahu traveled to Washington on Monday, American politics and voters were still adjusting to the sudden shift in focus from Biden to Harris in the Democratic presidential race. Biden was still suffering from Covid-19 in Delaware.
Harris, as Senate president, usually sits behind foreign leaders, but will be out on Wednesday on a planned trip to Indianapolis before he becomes the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination over the weekend.
Israeli media said Netanyahu had also asked for a meeting with Trump, but there was no immediate word on that. Trump has had a mixed relationship with Netanyahu, including cursing him for what Trump portrayed as Netanyahu’s quick endorsement of Biden’s victory in the 2020 elections.
Protests are planned
Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress will be somewhat different from previous such addresses because of opposition among Democrats to his war in Gaza.
With Harris out, Senate Pro Tempore Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, is in line to fill the seat behind Netanyahu, but is among the lawmakers who declined to attend. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Ben Cardin will sit there instead. He told The Associated Press that he hoped Netanyahu would use the speech to set a future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
While some of the hostages’ families are said to be traveling with Netanyahu, other relatives who have blamed him for his handling of the crisis have said they will be sitting in the room.
Some legislators planned to boycott the address He said he would spend time talking to the families of those held by Hamas.
Several protests were planned outside the Capitol, with some condemning the Israeli military campaign as a whole, while others expressed support for Israel but pressured Netanyahu to sign a cease-fire agreement and bring home the hostages.
A much larger protest is set for Wednesday morning, with organizers planning to march around the Capitol building They demanded the arrest of Netanyahu on charges of war crimes. Permit applications submitted to the National Park Service estimated at least 5,000 participants.
Smaller protests are planned for Tuesday evening and throughout the day Wednesday, including a prayer vigil outside Union Station near the Capitol. Relatives of Israeli hostages plan vigil on National Mall
Security is strong
Fences were erected around the entrances to the Capitol and Potomac Riverside hotel where Netanyahu is staying on Tuesday. Capital police and the Secret Service were out in force to step up screening and security for the Israeli leader’s visit.
The Metropolitan Police announced an extended series Street closures It lasts most of the week.
The visit comes at a time when the Secret Service, which handles the security of visiting foreign leaders, is under increased security and intense political criticism from both parties over security failures in the attack on Trump. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday over the failures.
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Associated Press writers Amir Madani and Jake Miller in Washington and Joseph Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
