After three Israeli officials told Axios that US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority on July 14 and 15 before traveling on to Saudi Arabia, the White House confirmed on Sunday that the president plans to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia in July.
The spokesperson said that Biden’s trip comes in the context of a significant agenda with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the other Middle East countries, noting that his agenda is focused on ending wars and bringing stability to the Middle East region through diplomacy as well as on delivering results for the American people.
President Biden said on Saturday his visit to the Kingdom would include an agenda that focused on more than discussing energy.
Pointing out that a larger meeting will be taking place in Saudi Arabia, Biden said that the commitments from the Saudis don’t relate to anything having to do with energy but it has to do with national security for the Kingdom and for Israelis.
The Wall Street Journal’s report on Sunday cited two US officials with direct knowledge of the plans saying that Biden’s tentative agenda also includes a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as a summit with the leaders of the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Biden cannot seem to follow through on his promise given during his campaign to make the Saudi Crown Prince a pariah over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi since the skyrocketing surge in global oil prices has forced him to court Saudi Arabia in hopes it will increase oil production.
During the visit to Israel, President Biden is expected to meet several Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and President Isaac Herzog, but he also plans to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his planned visit to Bethlehem.
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