Jerusalem: President Joe Biden will spend Thursday maintain the Israel's turbulent politics as he meets with the country's leader to strengthen cooperation with the United States and other countries, despite facing his own challenges back in Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who took office as leader of an interim administration earlier this month after the previous coalition fell apart, is the first person Biden meets with on his agenda for the day. In less than four years, the nation will hold its fifth election in November.
There's little doubt that Biden wants Lapid to win, even though he'll probably be careful not to show any favouritism — after all, previous American presidents have attempted to influence Israeli politics with mixed results. Lapid's reputation could be improved by their joint appearances in a nation that values its relationship with the United States.
A joint statement that emphasises military cooperation between the United States and Israel as well as their commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is anticipated to be signed by Biden and Lapid. They also have plans to start a strategic high-tech collaboration initiative.
Both leaders will also host a virtual summit with India and the United Arab Emirates, a group of nations known as the I2U2, and hold a joint news conference. Before the meeting, a senior U.S. official who was not authorised to speak in public said that the UAE will contribute money to a $2 billion project supporting Indian agriculture.
Lapid, 58, former journalist and television host who started working in politics ten years ago. in the tenure of Benjamin Netanyahu the coutries longest-serving prime minister. he appointed him as a finance minister. After Netanyahu's governmen he serving as the opposition leader.
Given his long history with Netanyahu, Biden anticipates their meeting will be brief. Most notably, in 2010, while Biden was in the country, Netanyahu's government approved a sizable settlement project in East Jerusalem. Vice President Biden at the time was furious.
Israel was against the initial nuclear agreement, which was reached under President Barack Obama in 2015, because it did not address Iran's ballistic missile programme or military activities in the region, as well as the fact that its restrictions on Iran's nuclear enrichment would expire.
Israel would prefer severe sanctions to the U.S. rejoining the agreement, which Trump withdrew from in 2018, in the hopes of achieving a more comprehensive agreement.
On Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will present Biden with the presidential medal of honour, the country's highest civilian honour.
Additionally, he is scheduled to meet with American athletes competing in the Maccabiah Games. The largest sporting competition in the nation, also referred to as the "Jewish Olympics," is held every four years for Israeli and Jewish athletes from around the world.
