Netanyahu meets Biden at White House

Benjamin Netanyahu has met President Joe Biden at the White House, a day after delivering a fiery speech to Congress. Israel’s prime minister also plans to meet Vice-President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. Mr Netanyahu is expected to discuss Gaza, a ceasefire with Hamas and a possible hostage release. Reports suggest Mr […]

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Benjamin Netanyahu has met President Joe Biden at the White House, a day after delivering a fiery speech to Congress.

Israel’s prime minister also plans to meet Vice-President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

Mr Netanyahu is expected to discuss Gaza, a ceasefire with Hamas and a possible hostage release. Reports suggest Mr Biden will be pushing Mr Netanyahu toward signing a deal during their meeting.

The Israeli leader faces pressure both at home and abroad to bring an end to the Israel-Gaza war, now in its ninth month.

Speaking in the House chamber on Wednesday, he defended Israel’s brutal war campaign in Gaza, while attempting to rally support from US politicians.

“Our enemies are your enemies,” he said.

He also used the stage to condemn protesters against the war, whom he called “Iran’s useful idiots”.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Washington to accuse Mr Netanyahu of being a “war criminal”.

Twenty-three people were arrested on Wednesday, including five people inside the Capitol building, according to police.

Mr Netanyahu’s speech was occasionally met with rapturous applause, mostly led by Republicans.

The Gaza war has deepened political divides in Washington, and led to infighting among Democrats whose progressive wing has been critical of US support of Israel.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was spotted sitting in the audience holding a sign that read “guilty of genocide”.

Ms Harris did not attend Mr Netanyahu’s speech due to scheduling conflicts, the White House said.

Instead, she spent part of the day speaking to a crowd from the historically black sorority Zeta Phi Beta.

Ms Harris has expressed steadfast support for Israel. However, such a stance has been politically costly for the Democrats.

Hundreds of thousands of protest votes were cast against Mr Biden during the presidential primaries by those wanting him to stop sending military aid to Israel.

Some of those angered by his war stance see Ms Harris as a chance to mend the fracture in the party, and win back the votes.

Mr Netanyahu is expected to visit Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Friday. (BBC News)

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