From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 25, 2024
Netanyahu to Biden at the White House: ‘I look forward to discussing the great issues before us’
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanks US President Joe Biden for 50 years of support for Israel in very brief remarks in front of reporters in the Oval Office ahead of their meeting.
The statement to the press is incredibly short. The pair don’t take any questions from reporters.
“Welcome back Mr. Prime Minister. We’ve got a lot to talk about. I think we should get to it. The floor is yours,” says Biden.
“Mr. President, we have known each other for 40 years, and you’ve known every prime minister for 50 years, from Golda Meir. From a proud Jewish Zionist, to a proud Irish-American Zionist, I want to thank you for 50 years of public service and 50 years of support for the state of Israel,” Netanyahu says as Biden cracks a smile.
“I look forward to discussing with you today, and working with you in the months ahead, on the great issues before us,” Netanyahu adds, noting they’ve known each other for 40 years.
“I look forward to it as well,” Biden says.
“By the way, that first meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir, she had an assistant sitting next to her named Rabin. That’s how far back I go. I was only 12 then,” Biden quips.
Reporters then call out numerous questions to the pair, who sit patiently but answer none of them.
