Biden meets Herzog as Iran's nuclear threat looms
US President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasised their nations' close ties during a meeting at the White House despite US disagreements with Benjamin Netanyahu's administration in Israel over civil rights and Jewish settlements.
Some Democratic lawmakers announced they would not attend Herzog's speech to a joint session of Congress on the final day of a two-day visit, citing issues such as Netanyahu's human rights record.
After a meeting in Washington, Biden assured Herzog that US support for the State of Israel was unwavering. According to Biden, the two nations have been working together to increase integration and stability in the Middle East. "We have enhanced many efforts. While we still have a lot of work to do, progress has been made," he said. Herzog's role in his nation's politics is mainly ceremonial as head of state. Meanwhile, Biden was praised by him as Israel's "great friend".
"Some of our enemies mistakenly believe that our unbreakable bond is affected by the fact that we may disagree on some issues," Herzog said.
Israeli settlement growth in the occupied West Bank, as well as a judicial review by Netanyahu's right-wing government and referrals by anti-government protesters in Israel, have strained relations. The White House said Biden and Herzog had discussions on "enhanced coordination" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and Iran's defence cooperation with Russia.
Herzog and Biden last spoke at the White House in October
He added that Biden reaffirmed his commitment to seek a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and emphasised the need to take additional steps to strengthen the security and economic climate in the West Bank. In December, Netanyahu regained the helm and days later received a formal invitation from Biden to travel to the US later this year.
Concerns over Jewish settlements and a planned overhaul that critics say would deprive Israel's Supreme Court of much of its authority, and has sparked protests in Israel for months, prevented Biden from extending the invitation. There is "no road to hell", according to US Democratic Party politician Ilhan Omar, who declared on Twitter. Israeli President Isaac Herzog's speech "comes on behalf of the most right-wing government in Israel's history, at a time when the government openly promises to 'crush' Palestinian hopes for statehood, essentially putting a nail in the coffin of peace and a two-state solution," Omar said.
Boycott apartheid
Representative Rashida Tlaib, the first member of the House who is also a Palestinian-American, declared on Twitter that she would abstain from Herzog's speech. She held up an image of herself holding a "Boycott Apartheid" sign on the Capitol steps and said, "I urged all members of Congress who stand for human rights to all join me."
Representative Jamaal Bowman said he too would not appear in a statement citing "concerns that there is no sense of urgency to ensure the safety of all Israelis and Palestinians in the region and ultimately achieve a two-state solution." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was also not expected. One participant said she identified with many of her colleagues' concerns.
The absence of congressmen from foreign leaders' speeches is not unusual.
Many people chose not to attend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to Congress in June for a variety of reasons, including concerns about their rights. A 2015 speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress was boycotted by more than 50 Democrats because it was perceived as an embrace of congressional Republicans and a snub of then-Democratic President Barack Obama's Iran policy.
Vice President and Senate President Biden also failed to attend. To show their support for the state of Israel, House Republican leaders have scheduled a vote. Democrats who intended to omit the speech and a comment from the representative.
Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.