Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia

Biden and Netanyahu to have long-anticipated awkward encounter at UN

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 17 Sep 2023 19:42
4 Min Read

After a long wait by Netanyahu, the US President is considering a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister amid strained ties.

  • x
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and then US Vice-President Joe Biden pose for the media prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016.
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and then US Vice-President Joe Biden pose for the media prior to a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden are set to meet nine months into the latter's return to office, fulfilling a long-standing request. However, not many believe that this anticipated encounter could push the two to reconcile and mend their strained relationship. 

The White House reported on Friday that the US president is scheduled to meet Netanyahu in New York on Wednesday. According to Jake Sullivan, the US national security advisor, the two leaders would "discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues."

What are the two expected to discuss? 

The White House advisor stated that the anticipated meeting would focus on the alleged "shared democratic values" between the United States and "Israel." This is in reference to what Sullivan believes has caused deep unease in the White House regarding Netanyahu's judicial overhaul. Speaking for the White House, he considers it "an assault on the judiciary independence."

Moreover, the two leaders are expected to discuss a plan for stability, a more "prosperous region," and talk about "effectively countering and deterring Iran." 

Why the strained relationship? 

Sullivan's mention of shared democratic values alludes to the profound concerns within Biden's White House regarding the extensive judicial reforms advocated by Netanyahu's staunch coalition partners. These reforms are viewed as a direct challenge to the autonomy of the judiciary.

Related News

Trump urged Zelensky to cede Donbass for peace with Russia

Venezuela deploys 20,000 troops amid renewed US threats

These proposals have sparked the largest protest movement in the occupation's history, prompting thousands of military reservists to make unprecedented requests to be relieved of their service obligations.

This has been the primary rationale behind Biden's reluctance to meet with Netanyahu during his current term and constitutes the key reason why the sought-after meeting in the White House will not take place.

Furthermore, the Biden administration has conveyed its exasperation with the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank, a matter deemed by the international community as a significant impediment to achieving peace with the Palestinians and realizing the unwelcome "two-state solution." 

Israelis are desperate for a Biden-Netanyahu meeting 

The announcement coincided with appeals from prominent Israeli artists and intellectuals, such as the renowned writer David Grossman and the painter Tamar Getter, urging the US president to completely avoid a meeting with Netanyahu.

"From the outset of establishing his extreme right-wing government, Netanyahu’s coalition has worked tirelessly to weaken the supreme court, neutralize the media, and destroy the few checks and balances safeguarding the health of our nation," an open letter published last week and signed by 3,500 Israeli academics and public figures read.

“Netanyahu incites citizens against each other, threatens the country’s security and economy, and turns his face away from the historical conflict that tears Israel apart – the forceful domination of the Palestinian people.”

Who needs whom? 

Earlier this month, the Israeli PM announced his upcoming visit to the United States, emphasizing the strong alliance between the two, with the US providing billions in military aid annually. Initially, there were no official meetings with US officials announced, an unusual occurrence for visiting Israeli prime ministers.

Biden had earlier stated in the year that he had no immediate plans to meet with Netanyahu. However, in July, his office confirmed a meeting had been arranged. Netanyahu's office promptly announced that he had received an invitation to meet the US president, although the Biden administration refrained from characterizing it as such and did not specify the meeting's location.

According to reports from Axios, the matter of inviting Netanyahu caused divisions among Biden's advisors, eventually leading to a compromise of holding the meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. There were concerns that a meeting at the White House might be interpreted as an endorsement of Israeli government policies.

Furthermore, a White House invitation could serve as an incentive for Netanyahu to cooperate in a deal aimed at normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia. However, it was reported earlier today that Saudi Arabia has put a stop to its normalization discussions with "Israel."

Read next: Saudi Arabia halts normalization talks with 'Israel': Reports

  • United States
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • United Nations
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters
Politics

Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters

ap
Politics

Cuba's president denounces renewed US meddling in region, backs Petro

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'
Arts and Culture

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks before a lunch with President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Politics

Rubio leading US campaign to oust Maduro through force, sanctions: WSJ

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS