The meeting, described as a “warm meeting”, took place at the invitation of the King of Jordan – and the two discussed strategic in-depth issues – both at the bilateral and regional level. The visit also addressed the stability of relations between the countries and the need for dialogue with all parties in the region.
The visit took place in coordination with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and their offices. This is the third meeting between King Abdullah and President Herzog.
Meanwhile, preparations for Biden’s expected visit to Israel on July 13 are gaining momentum. The final schedule of the visit is expected to close in the coming days, and at the beginning of next month the preliminary American team will arrive in Israel to close all the details. In the background of the visit, a race against time is being held behind the scenes in an attempt to reach agreements on normalization with Saudi Arabia, with the aim of resolving the issue before Biden arrives in the Middle East.
Efforts with Saudi Arabia involve the entire Israeli system – from the IDF, through the Mossad, the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israelis fly to Hajj in Saudi Arabia.In any case, no one expects there to be full normalization and the establishment of relations with Saudi Arabia soon.
The Americans, by the way, are also pushing for a Saudi agreement to integrate Israel into a regional defense alliance. Defense Minister Bnei Gantz recently revealed that the regional air defense system set up in the Middle East thwarted Iranian attempts to harm Israel and other countries. Biden, by the way, is expected to meet Ganz during a visit to the Palmachim base, where he will observe an Iron Dome battery, missile interception protection systems and also discuss the development of a laser system for missile and drone protection.
Biden, it will be recalled, will take off on July 15 from Ben Gurion Airport to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for a two-day visit – where he will meet with the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin ‘Abd al-Aziz, and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman – who has so far been a Democratic opponent In the U.S. and of Biden himself, who called Saudi Arabia a “leper state” during the presidential election. Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia will take place against the backdrop of contacts between Jerusalem and Riyadh, in which the United States has an important role to play.
Meanwhile, intensive contacts are constantly underway between Israel and the United States to prepare for the visit, and it is already clear that the person who will welcome Biden at the airport will be Yair Lapid, who until then is expected to be appointed prime minister. Expected at Biden’s landing time, between 3pm and 5pm. Therefore, there will be no handshakes between Biden and Israel’s first staff, but there will be speeches – probably of Biden, Lapid and President Yitzhak Herzog.
Later, Biden will visit the West Bank, and will meet in Bethlehem with Abu Mazen. The White House statement said Biden would re-emphasize his firm support for a two-state solution. The senior US official said that “the president expects to discuss ways to create a political horizon that will ensure an equal degree of freedom, security, prosperity and respect for Israelis and Palestinians.”