Amid all the turmoil in the U.S. in the wake of Biden’s abandoning his reelection campaign and the failed assassination attempt against GOP nominee Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed for Washington, D.C. Monday, where he was expected to meet with Biden Tuesday and deliver a speech to Congress.
However, it looks like he won’t be meeting with the lame-duck president after all since Biden is still reportedly recovering:
The meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden will likely not be held tomorrow due to the latter still being sick with COVID-19, a source in the prime minister’s entourage tells The Times of Israel.
The White House has said Biden is quarantining in Delaware and will return to Washington, DC, once he tests negative, without offering a more detailed timeframe.
As we’ve reported, the White House doctor just gave Biden a clean bit of health Monday, but he hasn’t made any public appearances since he came down with the virus, so his condition remains unclear.
White House Doctor Issues New Letter on Joe Biden’s Condition
Why was Biden’s meeting with Netanyahu canceled?
The longer Biden is hidden and prohibited from making a proof of life video, the more this looks like a palace coup. https://t.co/fxFwe2i3ND
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 22, 2024
Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress has been described as “politically perilous” as the Israel-Hamas war rages on and the pro-Hamas crowd here in the States continues to bash the Jewish state for the conflict.
Netanyahu, who has clashed frequently with the president in the past, nevertheless offered kind words to Biden regarding his quitting his candidacy.
“This will be an opportunity to thank him for the things he did for Israel in the war and during his long and distinguished career in public service, as senator, vice president, and president,” Netanyahu said.
Striking a bipartisan tone, Netanyahu said he intended to reaffirm to the US that “regardless of who the American people choose as their next president, Israel remains its most indispensable and strongest ally in the Middle East.”
Of course he’s going to say that; although he is unlikely to join a Biden fan club, he knows he needs to keep the U.S.-Israel alliance strong. But he’s going to be facing some lawmakers however who are hostile to his appearance:
No, Netanyahu should not be welcomed into the U.S. Congress.
On the contrary, his policies in Gaza and the West Bank and his refusal to support a two-state solution should be roundly condemned.
As I stated last month, I will not be attending his address. pic.twitter.com/sM8NKt1Bu2
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 22, 2024
However, others welcome the prime minister:
The United States stands with Israel.
I’m looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his joint address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol this week! 🇺🇸🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/e8woblheDj
— Rep. Burgess Owens (@RepBurgessOwens) July 22, 2024
It’s already been a month filled with monumental news stories, and Netanyahu’s speech will only add to the list. How VP Kamala Harris will react remains to be seen; with her presidential candidacy officially announced and her boss going MIA, all eyes will be on her. Some think she will be even less friendly to Netanyahu than Biden:
Kamala Harris is farther left of Joe Biden on the issue of Israel’s right to self defense. She is a Palestinian terror sympathizer who has also just announced her refusal to listen to Netanyahu’s address of Congress this Wednesday.
Harris is DANGEROUS for Middle East stability. pic.twitter.com/rKBixzPNO2
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) July 22, 2024
As the saying goes, “With friends like these…”
