Biden heads to Israel for first Middle East tour
ERBIL, Syria (North Press) – The US President Joe Biden kicks off his first trip to the Middle East as he arrives in Israel on Wednesday, after spending two days in Israel, Biden plans to travel to Saudi Arabia.
Many topics will be covered during the trip, including improving relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors and counter Iran’s growing nuclear threat, as well as the economic situation and issues related to global energy and oil.
Biden will spend two days in Jerusalem to hold talks with Israeli leaders before meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in the West Bank.
Biden will take a direct flight from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to hold talks with Saudi officials and attend a summit of Gulf allies.
US administration officials said that this Biden’s first trip to the Middle East as president, and may result in some early steps towards publicly normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“Any normalization of any kind would be a long process, but looking for progress and momentum in that direction is certainly something we are focused on as we head off to the Middle East,” White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said.
Israeli leaders hope that Biden’s visit will result in tougher measures against Iran.
Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid has said talks “will focus first and foremost on the issue of Iran.”
Israel stresses that it will do whatever is necessary to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and is strongly opposing the restoration of the 2015 deal that gave Tehran sanctions relief.
The Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia is a part of efforts to stabilize global oil markets that are affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war, by contacting with a country that has been a key strategic ally of the United States for decades and a major provider of the fuel.
While Israel hopes that this visit will signal the start of diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi.
Israel, supported by the US, expanded its regional reach in 2020, when it normalized ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, years after its peace accord with Jordan and Egypt.