President Biden hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday, a day after chaotic anti-Israel protests near the Capitol building.
“Welcome back, prime minister. We have much to talk about. Let’s get started. You are next,” the 81-year-old president said in his only remarks after shaking hands with Netanyahu.
“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 said.
“And I look forward to discussing this with you today and working with you on the big issues facing us in the months ahead.”
Biden chimed in: “I’m looking forward to it, too. By the way, at my first meeting with Prime Minister Golda Meir, sitting next to me was her assistant, a guy named Rabin. That was that long ago. I was only 12 years old then.”
Both leaders ignored questions shouted at them by reporters who crowded the Oval Office.
Only a few dozen protesters turned out to oppose Netanyahu’s visit on Wednesday, after thousands burned American flags, raised Hamas flags and spray-painted messages of support for the terror group on Washington landmarks.
Biden on Sunday backed away from plans to seek reelection after a Democratic backlash over his cognitive abilities, plus anger among Muslim and Arab voters in battleground states, threatened to doom him in an expected rematch with former President Donald Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed as his successor in the Nov. 5 election, skipped Wednesday’s address to Congress, instead addressing members of a black women’s social club in Indiana and is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday afternoon.
Biden strongly supported Netanyahu’s invasion of the Gaza Strip shortly after an Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas terrorists killed about 1,200 people, but has stepped up his criticism of the Israeli leader as civilian casualties in the war have risen.
