Biden Meets Netanyahu 9 Months After Inauguration... In New York Instead of the White House

Discussion on Israel-Saudi Relations Normalization and More

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, held a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden nine months after taking office. The two countries discussed current issues such as the controversy over Israel's judicial reform, the Palestinian issue, and the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The two leaders met for over an hour in New York, USA, where the United Nations General Assembly was being held.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized, "We can build historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia," adding, "This peace will last long and advance reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state, as well as genuine peace between Israel and Palestine."

This appeared to express expectations for the U.S.-led negotiations to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Israel, having normalized relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco through the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, hopes to expand the Abraham Accords by improving relations with Saudi Arabia, the leading Sunni Islamic country.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel [Photo by Yonhap News]

Netanyahu also stated, "If we work together, we can make history and create a better future," adding, "We can also confront threats like Iran."

He seemed to address U.S. concerns about the 'judiciary weakening' led by his right-wing coalition by saying, "We live in an era of rapidly changing uncertainties, but one clear and unchanging thing is our commitment to Israeli democracy," and "We will uphold that value."

President Biden said, "Today, we will discuss difficult issues such as how to maintain democratic values like the principle of checks and balances, how to keep the path toward a solution for the two states (Israel and Palestine), and how to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons." He emphasized, "Even if we have differences in opinion, our commitment to Israel remains steadfast."

The fact that the meeting between the two leaders took place nine months after Netanyahu's return to power and was held in New York rather than the White House has led to analysis in diplomatic circles that it reflects the Biden administration's dissatisfaction with the Netanyahu government. Netanyahu has pushed a hardline policy stance on the Palestinian issue and raised concerns by attempting legislation to weaken the judiciary.

However, President Biden expressed in his opening remarks that he hopes to meet in Washington by the end of the year and conveyed an invitation to the White House.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council (NSC), said about the meeting, "The two leaders had candid, direct, and substantive discussions on a wide range of issues," adding, "They also talked about difficult issues including democratic values such as checks and balances and broad consensus for fundamental changes to Israel’s democratic system."