Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to “50 years of help for the state of Israel” from Joe Biden because the pair met on the White Home on Thursday.
The assembly got here a day after the Israeli prime minister gave a fiery speech to Congress as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated exterior.
The Israeli chief faces stress each at dwelling and overseas to convey an finish to the Israel-Gaza battle, now in its ninth month.
Mr Netanyahu mentioned he had identified Mr Biden for 40 years – and that the president had identified each Israeli PM during the last half a century.
“From a proud Jewish Zionist to a proud Irish-American Zionist, I need to thanks for 50 years of public service and 50 years of help for the state of Israel,” he mentioned.
Mr Netanyahu additionally mentioned he appeared ahead to working with Mr Biden “on the good points earlier than us” over the subsequent a number of months.
The US president joked that Golda Meir was the primary Israeli PM he had met, and that Yitzhak Rabin, a successor, was there as an assistant.
The assembly between the 2 males follows months of stress over the battle in Gaza, with Mr Biden in Could reportedly telling Israel that “sufficient is sufficient”.
Mr Netanyahu in June mentioned it was “inconceivable” that the Biden administration “has been withholding weapons and ammunition” to Israel.
At a information briefing, nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby mentioned that Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu mentioned the pressing want for a hostage launch deal, the potential of battle spilling over into Lebanon, the specter of Iran and the necessity to attain “compromises” in peace talks.
Whereas Mr Kirby added that “gaps stay” within the US-Israel relationship, the nations have a “wholesome relationship”.
“By wholesome, I imply they are not going to agree on every little thing,” Mr Kirby mentioned. “He [Mr Biden] could be very comfy with the connection he has with the Prime Minister.”
Mr Netanyahu additionally plans to satisfy Vice-President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee after Mr Biden introduced he was stepping down from his re-election marketing campaign.
Talking within the Home chamber on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu defended Israel’s battle in Gaza, whereas making an attempt to rally help from US politicians.
“Our enemies are your enemies,” he mentioned, and condemned protesters as “Iran’s helpful idiots”.
The White Home pushed again on Mr Netanyahu’s characterisation of the protesters, with Mr Kirby saying that “it is not a phrase we might use” and “not a mirrored image of what we expect” of the “principally peaceable” protests.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Washington to accuse Mr Netanyahu of being a “battle legal”.
Their loudspeakers and chanting might be clearly heard from the White Home as Mr Netanyahu arrived on Thursday.
Police arrested 23 individuals, together with 5 contained in the Capitol constructing.
Mr Netanyahu’s speech was often met with rapturous applause, principally led by Republicans.
The Gaza battle has deepened political divides in Washington, and led to infighting amongst Democrats whose progressive wing has been vital of US help of Israel.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was noticed sitting within the viewers holding an indication that learn “responsible of genocide”.
Ms Harris didn’t attend Mr Netanyahu’s speech resulting from scheduling conflicts, the White Home mentioned.
As a substitute, she spent a part of the day chatting with a crowd from the traditionally black sorority Zeta Phi Beta.
Ms Harris has expressed steadfast help for Israel. Nonetheless, such a stance has been politically expensive for the Democrats.
A whole lot of hundreds of protest votes had been solid towards Mr Biden in the course of the presidential primaries by these wanting him to cease sending army assist to Israel.
A few of these angered by his battle stance see Ms Harris as an opportunity to fix the fracture within the get together, and win again the votes.
Mr Netanyahu is anticipated to go to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Friday.
