Not At The White House, President Biden And Israeli PM Netanyahu Meet In New York: This Is What They Discussed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden had a meeting in New York. (Twitter/@POTUS)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden received Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing a number of matters related to the two countries, including working together to establish diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Meeting for the first time since PM Netanyahu returned to power in December, the two leaders signaled a desire to ease tensions in relations between the two countries, although President Biden explained he was also discussing their differences.

This includes the White House Leader's rejection of the controversial judicial reshuffle plan of PM Netanyahu's far-right government, as well as concerns about Israel's strong stance on Palestine.

"I hope we can finish a few things today," President Biden said at the start of the negotiations while sitting side by side with PM Netanyahu at a hotel ballroom in New York.

The White House statement issued after the meeting said President Biden "reaffirmed his concern about any fundamental changes to Israel's democratic system, without the widest possible consensus."

In addition, President Biden also called for "an immediate action to improve the security and economic situation, maintain the continuity of the two-state solution, to promote a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine," the statement said.

Earlier, I had a candid, constructive conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.We discussed several issues, from the progress we have made on integration efforts to the viability of a two-state solution, upholding our democratic values, and countering Iran. pic.twitter.com/chinQwq0oX

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 20, 2023

Early, I had a chance, construction with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. We disclosed several issues, from the progress we have made on integration efforts to the viaability of a two-state solution, upholding our democratic values, and countering Iran. pic.twitter.com/chinQwq0oX

Instead of holding a meeting at the White House, a more prestigious venue, the two leaders met on the sidelines of their participation in the annual UN's top-level General Assembly. Earlier, President Biden invited PM Netanyahu to visit Washington before the end of this year.

Furthermore, President Biden reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, repeating its support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

President Biden and PM Netanyahu spent some time meeting alone without advisers, a senior official of President Biden's administration said.

Talks with PM Netanyahu were seen as an opportunity for PM Biden to brief him, trying to see to what extent Israel is willing to do what it considers a potential major bargaining that could reshape geopoliticals in the Middle East.

On the other hand, the Government of PM Netanyahu has shown little willingness to provide a major concession to Palestine, which could make it difficult for Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to agree to normalization.

Although US officials insist that no breakthrough can be achieved, they personally praise its potential benefits, including eliminating possible Arab-Israeli conflicts, strengthening regional strongholds against Iran, and fighting Chinese attacks in the Gulf.

Separately, Middle Eastern observer at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy David Makovsky noted in an upload on X that the meeting took place "265 days after Netanyahu took office, the longest gap since 1964."

"The huge potential Saudi deal has left Biden and Netanyahu with no choice but to meet despite differences," he wrote.