During a meeting in the Oval Office, President Biden shared a light-hearted moment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reminiscing about their long history with Israeli leaders. Netanyahu acknowledged their 40-year acquaintance and Biden's connections dating back to Golda Meir, to which Biden humorously recalled his first meeting with Meir and Yitzhak Rabin in 1973.
Biden's past statements about his interactions with Israeli leaders have sometimes been inaccurate, as he mistakenly claimed involvement in the Six-Day War while still in law school. However, his team confirmed that his recent remarks about his age were made in jest.
Following Netanyahu's address to Congress, anti-Israel protests erupted in the capital, with demonstrators waving Hamas flags and defacing public property. Netanyahu condemned the protesters during his speech, labeling them as 'Iran's useful idiots' for aligning with Tehran's interests.
Among the attendees at Netanyahu's address was Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel in Congress, who staged a silent protest holding signs accusing Netanyahu of genocide and war crimes.
The Biden administration is now looking to facilitate discussions on a potential cease-fire between Israel and Gaza as the conflict persists.