Meeting Biden is Netanyahu's precondition for his ministers' US visit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
15 Mar 2023 00:29

Israeli media say the Israeli Prime Minister's office believes that Netanyahu is considered a persona non grata in Washington.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a special session of the Knesset in Occupied Al-Quds on June 13, 2021 (Reuters)

Israeli media reported on Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preventing his government ministers from visiting Washington unless he meets with US President Joe Biden, adding that the Prime Minister's planned visit to the UAE was canceled by the Gulf country.

In the details, the political affairs correspondent of the Israeli Channel 12 said Netanyahu is to pursue his tour in Europe, but there is an invitation he wanted to receive which has not arrived yet, adding, "And we, of course, mean the invitation from the White House to visit Washington."

The Israeli correspondent pointed out that there have not yet been any talks about such a visit by the Prime Minister.

In the same context, Netanyahu barred the ministers of his government, who expressed interest in traveling to Washington, from taking the trip, the media outlet continued.

He “made it clear to them” that as long as he did not travel to the White House and as long as he did not meet with Biden, none of them would make the trip.

UAE cancels Netanyahu's visit

The Israeli news channel also confirmed that in recent weeks, there have been extensive contacts from Netanyahu's office to coordinate his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

After the date was set, the UAE decided to cancel his visit because, according to the Israeli channel, they feared that his trip would coincide with the Holy month of Ramadan - a month that can witness security events in the entity - which could embarrass the Arab country.

Earlier, Israeli media said the UAE had frozen an arms deal with "Israel" due to its internal crisis, while the office of the Prime Minister of the occupation denied that.

Persona non grata

Israeli news media reported earlier that Netanyahu's office believes that the Prime Minister "has become a persona non grata in the White House."

Moriah Wahlberg, the political affairs correspondent for the Israeli Channel 13, said, "A political source spoke to one of the personalities who accompanied Netanyahu on his trip to Rome, and asked him about the reason behind not inviting the Prime Minister to the White House" until now.

The source explained to Wahlberg, “After insisting on the question and linking it to the judicial overhaul, and not being satisfied with the initial answer that there are several reasons for that, the source close to Netanyahu said you should ask the Americans why Netanyahu has not yet been invited to Washington.”

Protests pervade the occupation entity

Dismissing requests for a suspension to allow for negotiations on the contentious proposal, Prime Minister Netanyahu's cabinet is hell-bent on going through with its legislative agenda to pass the "judicial reforms".

Huge weekly protests are taking place across the occupied entity, mainly in "Tel Aviv", against the reforms introduced by Netanyahu's government. Last Saturday, the largest protest to date, according to Israeli media, took place. Some hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers took to the streets to declare outrage against the policies of the government, especially the reforms to the judiciary system.

Upheaval and chaos took the Israeli occupation by storm in the last few months. Violent clashes erupted between the opposition and police, as Israeli settlers escalated their demonstrations. Appeals for civil disobedience and riots have been met with stern warnings from both sides, as political rifts are widening and warning against the outbreak of a “civil war”.

The demonstrations raise slogans that automatically gain wide international support, as they demand that Netanyahu be tried in corruption cases, and others that call for the separation of powers, which increases international pressure on him.