White House officials arrive ahead of planned Biden visit to Israel

U.S. President expected to arrive in late June and address Israelis directly in speech; officials say possible summit of regional leaders being discussed, to take place during visit
Itamar Eichner|
U.S. President Joe Biden, expected to visit Israel next month, intends to deliver a speech in front of an Israeli audience, directed to the Israeli public, said White House sources who arrived in Israel on Tuesday ahead of the President's upcoming visit.
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    ראש הממשלה נפתלי בנט נפגש עם נשיא ארה"ב ג'ו ביידן
    ראש הממשלה נפתלי בנט נפגש עם נשיא ארה"ב ג'ו ביידן
    President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
    (Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO)
    A final date hasn't been set for Biden's visit, but he is expected to arrive late in June.
    The president's visit will probably be merged with his trip to Europe for the G7 summit in Germany, set to take place on June 26 to 28.
    The president's stay in Israel will likely last between a day and a half to two days. Biden is expected to attend an official dinner in the President's Residence, and meet with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He is also likely to pay a visit to Yad Vashem and the Western Wall.
    An additional American team is set to arrive in Israel within the coming days, in order to finalize details ahead of the visit. The Americans are also examining options of coordinating a regional meeting to be attended by Bennett and other Middle Eastern leaders, but that is still undecided. Nonetheless, the American embassy has already booked hotel rooms in Jerusalem.
    Biden is not the first president to speak directly to an Israeli audience. Barack Obama delivered a speech in 2013 to an audience of Jewish and Arab youth in the The International Convention Center (Binyenei HaUma) in Jerusalem. Four years later, Donald Trump spoke to a selected audience in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
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    Barack Obama visits Israel
    Barack Obama visits Israel
    Barack Obama visits Israel
    (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO)
    Last month, Biden accepted Bennett's invitation to Israel during the summer.
    "The two leaders also discussed global challenges outside of the Middle East region, including the potential of further Russian aggression against Ukraine," said the White House, adding that they discussed ways to halt Iran's nuclear program.
    "The president underscored his commitment to expanding stability and partnerships across the Middle East region, as exemplified by the Abraham Accords, together with Israelis and Palestinians enjoying equal measures of security, freedom, and prosperity."
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