WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House this week as planned, despite Biden having withdrawn from the presidential race, a person familiar with Biden’s schedule said Sunday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the exact time of the meeting has not yet been determined because Biden is recovering from COVID-19.
Netanyahu will address Congress on Wednesday and is also expected to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now seeking the Democratic Party nomination.
An official in Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Israeli leader planned to travel to Washington on Monday as planned. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.
Netanyahu leaves behind a brutal war to deliver his politically uncertain speech at a time of great uncertainty, underscored by Biden’s decision on Sunday not to seek re-election.
With the efforts to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamasgrowing concerns about the war spreading to Lebanon and Yemen and the dizzying american presidential campaignNetanyahu’s speech could cause confusion on both sides of the ocean.
The risks have only increased since Biden dropped out of the presidential race, especially as the choice of the next Democratic nominee — and the potential next US leader Netanyahu will have to rely on — remains uncertain.