The visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has generated much fanfare with protests over the war in Gaza continuing in front of the White House, where he is supposed to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Also on the itinerary is a sit-down with former President Donald Trump—underscoring the complicated, at times fractious, nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
The backdrop to Netanyahu’s visit was one of escalated tension and violence in Gaza, which has prompted protests throughout the United States. Palestinian interest proponents made hay out of the opportunity to bring attention to their widely shared unease with the humanitarian situation in Gaza, further complicating the diplomatic mission.
The meeting of President Biden with Netanyahu underlines the commitment that exists between the United States and its longtime ally, the State of Israel. Several issues were expected to feature in the talks between these two leaders: the current state of conflict, security concerns, and U.S. support for Israel. The trip is supposed to further underline the strategic importance of U.S.-Israeli relations at a time when they are under severe criticism from different quarters over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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Further meetings include those between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. All these meetings are characteristic of the multifaceted nature of the visit. Each meeting has a different nature of U.S. political engagement with Israel. Harris’s sit-down with Netanyahu might be focused on modern policy issues and the position the U.S. is holding over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the other hand, Trump, in his meeting with Netanyahu, could look back on past policies adopted by him and the general historical backdrop of U.S.-Israel relations.
These protests during Netanyahu’s visit reflect both the domestic and international tensions swirling around U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Activists and advocacy groups are hopping on this high-profile visit to underline their calls for a review of U.S. support for Israeli policies and demand greater attention toward the humanitarian impact of the Gaza conflict.
As Netanyahu navigates these meetings, the dynamics of his visit go to show what the duality in this visit is: to have a strong alliance with Israel and to address the growing concerns about humanitarian consequences from this ongoing conflict. Indeed, the results of such talks may go a long way in influencing future U.S. policy and approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
