White House Doesn't Want To Speak Up About Biden-Netanyahu Meeting Next Month

UNSPLASH/Kristina Volgenau ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The White House declined to comment on whether President Joe Biden would meet Benjamin Netanyahu. It is planned that the Israeli prime minister will visit Washington next month for a speech at the US Congress. "I have nothing to announce today," said Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation". Sullivan said Biden-Netanyahu's communications were carried out regularly. "He came for a speech at Congress. The president spoke to him all the time," Sullivan said. Netanyahu is scheduled to make a speech at a joint session of Congress on July 24. Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel in his war with Hamas in Gaza, but there is tension between the two men about how Israel fought war. Biden, who ran for re-election in November, has faced criticism for his support for Israel from its left-handed political base as Palestinian death toll increases from Israeli attacks. Sullivan said he hoped the ceasefire and hostage-taking deal would come at a time when Netanyahu came to Washington. Hamas should only say "yes" to the proposal on the table, he said.

Biden, who returned to the United States from France on Sunday evening, welcomed the rescue of four hostages detained by Israeli forces and vowed to remain working until all hostages are released and a ceasefire is reached.