President Biden will visit Israel in the coming months at the invite of Prime Minister Bennett
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office and the White House confirmed the visit, after the two leaders held phone call to discuss the Iran nuclear deal
U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Israel in the coming months, according to statements from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office and the White House. Biden accepted the invitation from Bennett in a phone call on Sunday.
The two leaders discussed "shared regional and global security challenges, including the threat posed by Iran and its proxies", said a White House readout of the call.
A statement from Bennett’s office highlighted Israel’s opposition to Iran's demand to remove its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the list of foreign terror organizations. This reportedly remains one of the last sticking points in the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and world powers.
"I am sure that President Biden, who is a true friend of Israel and cares about its security, will not allow the IRGC to be removed from the list of terrorist organizations. Israel has clarified its position on the issue: The IRGC is the largest terrorist organization in the world," Bennett was quoted as saying.
Bennett briefed Biden on efforts "to stop the violence and incitement in Jerusalem," his office said.
In recent days, representatives from the U.S. State Department were sent to the region to visit Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Egypt, as part of an attempt to diffuse tensions and restore calm on the Temple Mount.
On Friday, at least 57 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli police within the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to Ynet.
Biden "took note of ongoing efforts between Israeli and Palestinian officials to lower tensions and ensure a peaceful conclusion to the holy season of Ramadan" and affirmed "his unwavering support for Israel and its defense needs," the White House said in its statement.
Tal Heinrich is a senior correspondent for both ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS. She is currently based in New York City. Tal also provides reports and analysis for Israeli Hebrew media Channel 14 News.
