President Rivlin to meet Obama at White House in December

President Reuven Rivlin will meet with his American counterpart Barack Obama at the White House next month, the offices of the two confirmed Tuesday.

The meeting will be the first between the two heads of state since Rivlin was sworn into office in July 2014. A White House statement said the meeting would take place on December 9.

“The President looks forward to discussing with President Rivlin a range of issues of common focus, including the unprecedented bilateral security cooperation between the US and Israel, regional developments, combating extremism in all of its forms, and the need for genuine advancement of peace between Israelis and Palestinians and a two-state solution,” the statement said.

Rivlin said the two would discuss “strengthening the strong relationship between the two countries in light of current challenges.”

The announcement comes on the heels of Monday’s White House meeting between Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first in over a year following tense disagreements over the Iranian nuclear accord signed in July.

Rivlin will also be an honored guest at the White House’s annual Hannukah reception, following the meeting between the two presidents.

The meeting between Rivlin and Obama was first confirmed by White House chief of staff Denis McDonough during remarks at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America.

McDonough told the assembly that the relationship between Israel and the US was “sacrosanct.”

“It’s a solemn commitment made by all who sit in the Oval office — Democrats and Republicans — going back to Harry Truman,” he said.

Associated Press contributed to this report.