ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the White House for a high-stakes meeting with President Joe Biden.
The historic summit comes after Netanyahu gave a fiery speech to Congress, where he warned that “America will be next” if the US does not support Israel against the “axis of terror” led by Iran in the Middle East.
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President Biden welcomed the Israeli Prime Minister the White House before saying, “We have a lot to talk about. I think we should get straight to the point.”
In his brief remarks to reporters, Netanyahu praised Biden, calling him a proud Irish-American Zionist, and thanked him for his 50 years of support for the state of Israel.
The Israeli leader remains under pressure at home over his handling of the war with Hamas, which has claimed the lives of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been on the rise since the Palestinian militant group massacred more than 1,000 Israelis on October 7.
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Biden is expected to be forceful in his closed-door discussion with Netanyahu and urge him to accept a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, according to CNN.
The two leaders are expected to meet with families of American hostages held captive in Gaza following the discussion.
Our enemies are your enemies and our fight is your fight.
Benjamin Netanayhu
During his speech to Congress, Netanyahu resisted the harsh international criticism that his country has suffered since the start of the war with Hamas.
The Israeli prime minister promised to achieve “total victory” over Hamas and denounced American opponents of the war in Gaza as “Iran’s useful idiots”.
“America and Israel must remain united,” Netanyahu fiercely argued.
“When we’re together, something really simple happens. We win, they lose.
“Our enemies are your enemies, and our fight is your fight. Our victory will be your victory.”
Dozens of members of Congress chose to boycott Netanyahu’s visit to the US Capitol, including presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Harris skipped the Israeli leader’s speech to Congress and instead traveled to Texas for a campaign stop at a sorority.
Netanyahu and Harris are expected to meet at 4:30 pm on Thursday.
‘DESPICABLE ACTS’
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington DC sparked mass protests outside the Capitol, where pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police, burning Israeli and American flags.
Police armed with riot gear, batons and pepper spray secured the ring of metal barriers around the Capitol as protesters vowed a “day of rage.”
Video showed a crowd of protesters lighting an American flag on fire outside Union Station in Washington DC.
Protesters were also seen replacing a US flag on a flagpole with a Palestinian one.
Vice President Harris condemned the burning of the American flag as a “despicable act.”
“Yesterday at Union Station in Washington D.C., we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protesters and dangerous rhetoric fueled by hate,” the 49-year-old presidential candidate said Thursday.
“I condemn any individuals who associate with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has promised to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews.
“Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric are abhorrent and we must not tolerate them in our nation.
“I condemn the burning of the American flag. This flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America.
“It should never be desecrated in this way. I support the right to peacefully protest, but let’s be clear: anti-Semitism, hatred and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.”
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