Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas meet ahead of Joe Biden's trip to the Middle East

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has travelled to Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, to meet President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of Joe Biden's arrival in the region. The US President will arrive in the Middle East next week to meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials. He will then travel to Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with several regional leaders, including Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince.

The meeting between Gantz and Abbas took place in a "positive atmosphere", according to the Israeli Defence Minister. During the meeting they discussed security challenges in the region and agreed to maintain the security partnership and avoid activities that could provoke instability

Gantz also took the opportunity to wish Abbas and the Palestinian people a happy Eid Al-Adha, a Muslim holiday that begins this weekend. The meeting was the third between Abbas and Gantz since August last year, and the first since Yair Lapid became Israel's Prime Minister, succeeding Naftali Bennet.

Abbas, for his part, stressed the importance of creating "a political horizon, respecting the signed agreements and stopping the procedures and practices that lead to the deterioration of the situation", according to Hussein Al Sheikh, head of the Palestinian Authority for Civil Affairs. The Palestinian leader also stressed "the importance of creating a calm atmosphere ahead of President Biden's visit". As The Times of Israel reports, a US delegation has already arrived this week to prepare for the impending visit.

According to the Israeli newspaper, numerous US planes have in recent days transported, among other goods, the US president's armoured limousine - 'The Beast' - and a fleet of 10 armoured limousines. Two presidential helicopters and six army Black Hawks have also arrived. 

According to an Israeli official quoted by The Times of Israel, the main purpose of Biden's trip is to promote "regional integration" between Israel and its Arab neighbours. The source also said the US president will meet with Lapid, President Isaac Herzog and former Prime Minister and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu. He is also scheduled to visit a battery of the Iron Dome and the Holocaust museum. He is also expected to visit East Jerusalem and Ramallah.

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.