Benjamin Netanyahu Meets President Biden at the White House
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet with the American families of the people being held hostage by Hamas on Thursday, July 25, 2024 in the Cabinet Room (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz).
Although controversial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Congress and the White House was productive and hopefully a sign that the violence and terror in the Middle East is nearly over.
Article by Grace Sawyer, Senior White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON - After addressing Congress on July 24th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined President Joe Biden in the Oval Office today for a bilateral meeting to discuss Israel’s security as well as work out the details in the deals being made regarding the ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Gaza. The tensions around this meeting were high, with people protesting the meeting and cooperation of the United States and Israel. This meeting was the first time the world leaders had seen each other since the October 7th attack, where the militant group, Hamas, viciously attacked Israel on the Gaza strip which triggered a violent response from Israel, effectively starting the war currently raging in the Middle East.
Many Democrats protested giving Netanyahu the platform to speak on Wednesday in Congress and were concerned by the messages found within his speech, while many Republicans supported his policies and vow to end the war in any way necessary. His remarks indicated that Israel wouldn’t stop their fight until they reached “total victory,” which contradicts the reports of desiring the ceasefire and being ready for hostage release negotiations that have been arranged by the United States. Additionally, he urged Americans to keep their “boots off the ground,” and instead rush the transfer of weapons to Israel in order to “finish the job faster.” While having both Israel and Palestine at odds and committed to violence, many Americans worry that resolving the conflict with peace is becoming more unattainable. Many Americans are protesting the financial and military support for Israel, noting that some Israeli’s themselves want Benjamin Netanyahu to step down as well as arguing that Hamas represents a small margin of Palestinians, and that the displacement and death of both parties involved is completely unwarranted.
However, some of these protests on American soil have been pro-Hamas, and led to another announcement from the current administration denouncing violence. Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement noting that, “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation.” Our political and economic affiliation in this war is divisive, and many are looking to settle the war as soon as possible, both to achieve peace overseas and within America.
Prime Minister Netanyahu entered the Oval Office and went directly through the double doors without so much as a look or wave behind him. During the meeting between President Biden and the Prime Minister, it was reported that a deal with Hamas is underway and in the late stages of cementation and solidification. The phases and plan generally laid out by President Biden have been generally accepted by Hamas but nothing has been promised and no timeline has been set. After the meeting, President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu made their way from the Oval Office to the Cabinet Room to meet with the American families of the people being held hostage by Hamas. This is not the first time President Biden has consoled and spoken to the families about working hard to guarantee the return of the people they love. Many of the family members agreed that after speaking with the two world leaders, their goals were aligned and they had hope that the hostage negotiations will be successful. After this meeting, the Prime Minister met with Vice President Harris in the Vice President’s Ceremonial Office to discuss the same matters in addition to fighting antisemitism.
Although controversial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Congress and the White House was productive and hopefully a sign that the violence and terror in the Middle East is nearly over.