From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 28, 2021
Rivlin set to meet Biden in Washington
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President Reuven Rivlin and US President Joe Biden are set to meet in Washington shortly.
It is the first formal meeting between a senior Israeli official and the American commander-in-chief since Biden entered the White House in January.
The largely ceremonial meeting, which will take place in the Oval Office of the White House, is scheduled for around 11 p.m. Israel time, 4 p.m. EST — after prime time in Israel, although upon its conclusion, Rivlin will brief the press.
Rivlin’s seven-year term as president is due to end on July 7, and the White House said the visit “will honor the dedication he has shown to strengthening the friendship between the two countries over the course of many years.” But beyond rituals and handshakes, Rivlin intends to raise a range of substantive issues, such as Iran and Israel’s objection to a potential US return to the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as the Gaza Strip and Syria.
The new Israeli government’s position against the Iran nuclear deal is the same as the one taken by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has pledged to handle disagreements behind closed doors, as opposed to Netanyahu who was more willing to publicize his disapproval with the American administration.
Rivlin is in Washington as part of a farewell tour in the US at the invitation of Biden. He will meet with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and senior congressional leadership on Capitol Hill later in the afternoon. Rivlin completes his term as president next week and will be replaced by Isaac Herzog.
The Times of Israel Community.