A senior U.S. administration official this evening (Tuesday) revealed details about President Biden's expected visit to the region.
As first reported in "Israel Today", the president will arrive in Israel on July 13.
This will be the first stop on his journey, which will last until the 16th of the month and will also include visits to the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia.
During the visit, Biden will meet with more than a dozen heads of state "from the Middle East and beyond."
The intention is, among other things, for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It also appears that during his stay in Israel, the president will visit the Iron Dome battery - a system developed with American funding.
Following Operation Wall Guard, the Biden administration provided special assistance totaling $ 1 billion to resume supply of the system's interceptor missiles.
Against the background of the high cost of each interceptor missile, Israel is currently developing a system for intercepting using laser beams, and it is reported that the President will discuss with senior Israeli officials in cooperation in this field as well.
Reuters
During the visit, the establishment of a new political organization will be announced in which, among others, Israel, the United States, India and the United Arab Emirates will take part. Nothing was said about Saudi Arabia at the briefing, but US Ambassador to Israel The purpose of the president's visit will be to strengthen ties between Riyadh and Jerusalem.
In addition, a statement issued this evening by the Prime Minister's Office stated that "during the President's visit, US steps will be revealed to strengthen Israel's integration in the Middle East" - a hint of a deal with Saudi Arabia and possibly the US initiative to establish a regional air defense system. Countries of the Abrahamic Accords alongside other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq.
The senior government official also said that "we are pleased that the president's visit to Israel will take place in parallel with the Maccabiah Games, which unite Jewish athletes from around the world, and the president may take this opportunity to meet with some of the athletes."
The senior official emphasized Biden's warm attitude toward Israel, and the president's practice of quoting his father who would say that "if the State of Israel did not exist, it should have been invented."
During his visit, the President will meet with Abu Mazen and other Palestinian officials.
"He looks forward to the opportunity to re-emphasize his long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, and to discuss ways that may revive a political horizon that will ensure freedom, security, prosperity and respect for both Israelis and Palestinians," the senior official said.
He said, "The president's visit will be a turning point in US-Israel relations with the Palestinian Authority, and we hope it will be a fresh start of dialogue both between the US and the PA, but also between the PA and other countries in the region, and most importantly - Israel."
Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Photo: Reuters
The senior official added that the summit with the participation of Biden and the leaders of the region would be held in the city of Jeddah, and that the president's meeting with Abu Mazen would most likely take place in Bethlehem and not in Ramallah, although this issue has not yet been finalized.
In addition, the senior official confirmed for the first time that the president would meet face-to-face with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, in what appears to be the beginning of an end to the unofficial boycott imposed on the prince following the assassination of journalist Jamal Khushkji.
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