Before departing for a scheduled trip to Washington D.C. where he is set to address Congress, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that Israel will remain the United States' most steadfast ally in the Middle East, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in November.
This visit marks Netanyahu's first trip to the U.S. since resuming office for a sixth term at the end of 2022. Netanyahu mentioned his intention to express gratitude to Biden for his longstanding support of Israel and to discuss critical issues such as securing the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, combatting Hamas, and addressing threats from Iran and its allies.
A tentative meeting with Biden is scheduled for Tuesday, contingent on his recovery from Covid-19. Netanyahu's address to Congress is planned for Wednesday.
Netanyahu will be joined by Noa Argamani, a hostage recently rescued by Israeli forces. Her presence has sparked criticism from other hostage families who feel Netanyahu has not done enough to secure the release of their relatives.
His speech to Congress is expected to highlight the need for coordinated responses to the Middle Eastern conflict and the risk of it escalating into a broader regional war.
This address is anticipated to be less confrontational than his 2015 speech, where he opposed Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.
The U.S. has pressured Israel to resume negotiations for a political settlement with the Palestinians and has hinted at withholding arms. This pressure, along with protests in Israel calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, has contributed to the perception that U.S.-Israel relations have weakened under Netanyahu.
The invitation for Netanyahu to address Congress was extended by the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives, who have accused Biden of not showing enough support for Israel.
There is no indication that Netanyahu will meet with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during this visit. Despite their close relationship during Trump's presidency, Trump has criticized Netanyahu and called for a swift end to the Gaza conflict.
While Netanyahu's reception in Congress is expected to be warm, he may face hostility outside official circles. Protests against Israel's actions in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel are planned at the Capitol on Wednesday. Police are preparing for a large number of demonstrators but have reported no specific threats.
Internationally, Israel has faced isolation due to its war in Gaza, which Gaza health authorities report has resulted in nearly 39,000 Palestinian deaths, as well as its settlement expansion in the West Bank and settler attacks on Palestinians.
The International Court of Justice recently declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, a decision criticized by Washington. This follows similar actions, including the International Criminal Court's prosecutor seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
Domestically, Netanyahu is under pressure to negotiate an end to the Gaza conflict and secure the return of 120 hostages held by Hamas. He has resisted calls for an inquiry into the security lapses that preceded the October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 abductions.
Opinion polls indicate that most Israelis hold Netanyahu accountable and would vote him out of office if elections were held today.
