Biden to attend Israeli Independence Day event in DC

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden will attend Israel’s Independence Day event in Washington, DC.

Biden’s attendance was announced Thursday on the official Twitter account of Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, and in an emailed release to media.

“I am honored to host @VP Biden at Israel’s Independence Day event in Washington, DC on April 23rd,” wrote Dermer.

In the media release, Dermer’s statement suggested efforts to reconcile the governments after a period of tensions over disagreement about the Iran nuclear talks.

“I look forward to having the opportunity to express Israel’s appreciation for the support that the Obama Administration has given to Israel over the past six years and to reaffirm the great friendship between Israel and the United States,” Dermer’s statement said.

At last year’s event, the administration was represented by President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice.

On Wednesday, the United States’ ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said that her government would continue to “work closely” with Israel at the United Nations but would not count out advancing resolutions targeting Israel.

Relations between the two nations’ governments have deteriorated amid disagreements over Israel’s construction plans in West Bank settlements and eastern Jerusalem, and the deal that the United States is negotiating with Iran for the scaling back of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Haaretz reported that Dermer visited the White House a total of 11 times from December 3, 2013 to the end of 2014. Only one of the visits was for a work meeting.

But the analysis site presspectiva.org.il reported that Dermer’s predecessor, Michael Oren, also had only one annual work meeting at the White House in the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Oren, however, had four work meetings at the White House in 2013, his last year in office.