Netanyahu’s office hits back at criticism over Friday scheduling of Trump meeting

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

After criticism emerges over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Friday meeting with Donald Trump in Florida — which falls on the birthday of his son Yair, who lives in Miami — his office puts out a statement that “it is of great importance to the State of Israel that the prime minister will meet with President [Joe] Biden and the two leading candidates for the US presidency.”

Netanyahu will have to stay in the US over the Jewish Sabbath because of the Friday meeting.

“On Thursday, the White House scheduled a meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu at 1 p.m., and a meeting with Vice President [Kamala Harris] is scheduled for the afternoon,” says the PMO. “Therefore, the only possibility to meet with Donald Trump is on Friday.”

“Since it is not possible to fly on Shabbat, the delegation will return to Israel immediately at the end of Shabbat,” insists Netanyahu’s office.

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