Joe Biden

As President Joe Biden arrived here on Wednesday, he is doing something he has never done on a foreign trip: Embracing one of his predecessor's legacy ...

In expanding Israeli normalization with the Arab world, we would also like to see Saudi Arabia as part of that expansion," a senior Israeli official told CNN. "The Middle East I'll be visiting is more stable and secure than the one my administration inherited 18 months ago," Biden wrote. And like his previous foreign trips, Biden's trip to Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia will underscore the significant US policy shift underway. "There is an effort (housed) under CENTCOM to develop regional security cooperation among all the actors and one element is the integrated air defense initiative. Earlier this year, Israel and Saudi Arabia both participated in joint naval exercises for the first time, with the US and Oman. But US officials say their focus on Arab-Israeli normalization is a recognition of realities in the region: The momentum for growing Arab-Israeli ties coupled with dead-end political conditions in Israel and the Palestinian territories. and the administration is hoping MBS will acknowledge some responsibility for the crime. and mend ties with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman -- whom the US accused in a declassified CIA report of having approved the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi -- believing that expanding the Abraham Accords would be more difficult without strengthened US-Saudi relations, despite Biden's tough domestic political situation around Saudi relations. "Our job is to go deeper with the countries that have signed up and to go wider if we can." Biden is expected to visit a Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem this week and announce $100 million in new funding for those facilities, US officials said. The Israeli government was angry with the statement, too, according to a senior Israeli official, because it appeared to contradict itself. "Had we launched a peace process, there would have been nobody at the table."

The White House isn't showing its hand about what President Joe Biden plans to do with his. Just hours before Biden was set to land in Israel for a Middle ...

The doctor’s sudden order minimizes the risk that such a picture will flash across TV screens in the coming days. They said the precaution was put in place by Biden’s doctor following a rise in cases of Covid-19 variants. The new policy was announced at a convenient time. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, was right behind Biden hugging some of his Israeli counterparts. That’s the approach we’re taking,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, noting each individual interaction could go differently. A doctor’s order to take extra Covid-19 precautions comes at a convenient time for the president.

JERUSALEM — Joe Biden and Israel go way back. As he began his 10th trip to the Holy Land, he can look back on visits — as a senator and vice president ...

“We oppose our money going to fund militarized policing, occupation and systems of violent oppression and trauma,” Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who rose to political prominence as a Black Lives Matter activist, said in a speech on the House floor in May 2021. Still, Israel has long enjoyed bipartisan backing in the United States, and even as the mood toward the country shifts, U.S. politicians still overwhelmingly support it. “Some things are just not in the cards,” said Dan Shapiro, President Barack Obama’s ambassador to Israel and now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank. “Both of them could be waiting in the wings.” But Israeli media has reported that just 15 minutes is allocated for the session and no joint appearance is scheduled. But Lapid’s supporters relish his chance to appear at the U.S. leader’s side just as campaigning begins. He’s a realist, a practical man,” said Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the United States. But the dynamics in both countries will take the most contentious issues off the table. It wasn’t the legendary Meir, who led Israel from 1969 to 1974, hosting Biden on his first trip as president, of course, or even Benjamin Netanyahu, the longtime premier whose frenemy relationship with Biden goes back 30 years. Lapid’s centrist party faces a November election and polls that show Netanyahu poised for a possible comeback. I’ve been part of that as a senator, as a vice president, and quite frankly, before that, having been raised by a righteous Christian.” “The connection between the Israeli people and the American people is bone deep,” he said at the airport after disembarking.

President Biden has arrived on Air Force One in Israel Wednesday for the start of his Middle East trip, vowing the connection between U.S. and Israel is ...

"I mean that, for the benefit of the entire world." "Greater peace, greater stability, greater connection. And with this visit, we're strengthening our connection even further," he continued. Shalom," a woman was heard saying as the U.S. delegation touched down. "Generation after generation, that connection grows. We invest in each other.

Crude could be in for a momentous Wednesday. Phil Rosen here with you on hump day, eagerly awaiting updates from President Joe Biden's arrival in the Middle ...

The firm's analysts broke down its strategy to help investors roll with the punches — including these four portfolio changes to make during the uncertainty. James Abate broke down his strategy for investing in the current landscape, and shared seven recession-proof stocks he loves right now. It is a potential course correction for Canoo, which reported a steep loss last year. Meanwhile, Twitter's share price is up in pre-market trading, after the social media company sued Elon Musk, saying the billionaire is obligated to complete the $44 billion deal. 6. Oil prices could jump to $140 a barrel if Russian crude doesn't get a price cap. These 10 charts paint a picture of what's to come. In the group's first outlook for 2023, OPEC said demand will balloon by 2.7 million barrels per day. Meanwhile, the IEA provided little consolation ahead of Biden's travels. 1. Even if talks go well this week, OPEC will be hard pressed to resolve the tight market. Here's what you want to know. 4. Experts on Wall Street are warning that the stock market sell-off likely isn't over. Below, I break down what you want to know ahead of any wheelin' and dealin' that might take place.

Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid are expected to sign a joint declaration on Thursday affirming the strategic partnership between the two ...

Biden will then visit Herzog at his residence, which underwent renovations ahead of the visit and where guests will be served cocktails decorated with Israeli and American flags. In contrast to former President Donald Trump, Biden will not visit the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, a usual stop for visiting dignitaries, but is expected to tour Augusta Victoria, a Palestinian-run hospital on the eastern side of the city on Friday. Axios reported that Biden will meet with Palestinian civil society activists at the hospital and that he turned down a request by Israeli officials to join him on the tour. Additionally, the first-ever I2U2 virtual summit along with the leaders of India and the United Arab Emirates will be held. On Thursday, the president will hold a bilateral meeting with Lapid, who took over as caretaker prime minister from Bennett last month and will serve until Israelis go to the polls on Nov. 1. Referring to comments by “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg and a recent Twitter storm about Anne Frank having “white privilege,” for example, Dayan added, “These incidents highlight the need for more Holocaust awareness and education. Some 16,000 police officers will be deployed across Jerusalem to facilitate the visit, Biden’s first trip to the Middle East as president.

(T.J. Kirkpatrick | The New York Times) President Joe Biden speaks at an event honoring Earth Day, making the case for the need to address climate change, in ...

But the presidency ages even young men, and Biden is far from young; a country in as much trouble as ours needs a leader vigorous enough to inspire confidence. (Some of his misspeaking can be explained by the stutter he overcame as a child, but not all.) His staff often seems to be keeping him out of view; as the Times reported, he’s participated “in fewer than half as many news conferences or interviews as recent predecessors.” But now we need someone who can stand up to the still-roiling forces of Trumpism. There are plenty of possibilities: If Vice President Kamala Harris’ approval ratings remain underwater, Democrats have a number of charismatic governors and senators they can turn to. But by receding so far into the background, he forfeits the ability to set the public agenda. Now, I didn’t want Biden to be the Democratic nominee in 2020, partly for ideological reasons but even more because he seemed too worn-out and unfocused. They built their careers in institutions that worked, more or less, and they seem to expect them to start working again. Certainly, there’s something nice about a president who doesn’t torment the country with his vampiric thirst for attention. The House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, is 83. Trump had left the country in ruins, its institutions collapsing, much of the population gripped by furious delusions, and millions traumatized by the pandemic. Many of the crises driving down Biden’s approval numbers are not his fault. I can’t help feeling very sorry for Joe Biden. He’s wanted to be president for most of his life, first running 34 years ago.

President Joe Biden is in trouble, big trouble. When 64 percent of those who said they would be voting in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary want ...

What it tells me is that Biden and Democrats on the Hill have apparently learned nothing over the past 19 months. The New York Times is a case in point. As Democrats’ prospects for the congressional elections grow dimmer, Biden and Democratic Hill leaders continue operating with the wrong-headed notion that if they could just pass one more big bill, one more piece of legislation with major tax increases on the “rich” and more money for climate, all would be right with Biden world. So, the country is left to watch what has become the worst political rerun in recent memory — Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi trying to bring back a variation of “Build Back Better” one more time through reconciliation and expecting a different result, to borrow a phrase. Will begging for oil in a place he once called a “pariah state” be enough to convince people he’s getting inflation under control, especially when his own decisions have made the country energy dependent once again? When 64 percent of those who said they would be voting in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary want someone new to carry the banner, citing age and job performance, as a New York Times/Siena College survey showed this week, it’s more than just a dip in the polls.

Despite a poll laying bare his chances of a 2024 run, President Joe Biden maintained that he has support of the party's electorate.

The polling actually showed that around two-thirds of voters would vote for another candidate in the Democratic presidential primary (although some surveyed may not in practice be able to vote in that contest). It's true that 92 percent of Democrats surveyed said they would vote for Biden in an election. The New York Times poll found that 92 percent of Democratic voters would support Biden in an election, but only if asked to vote today and their other options were Donald Trump, an unnamed nominee, or not voting. That poll showed that 92 percent of Democrats if I ran would vote for me." The White House, too, misrepresented the poll. "They want me to run," Biden said.

The Yahoo/YouGove poll also contained bad news for Biden's vice-president, Kamala Harris, who was supported by just 19% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning ...

In his opening remarks, Biden recalled that his first visit to the country had been as a young senator in 1973, just a few weeks before the Yom Kippur war with Egypt and Syria broke out. Abrams and Warnock plan to run closely linked campaigns, echoing many of the same themes. Warnock is one of several Democratic Senate incumbents in swing states who is trying to cling to their seat amid President Joe Biden’s deep unpopularity. Blair, 27, left his home in Clarksburg, Maryland, and started driving to Washington, D.C., after the riot erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Peters and her chief deputy, Belinda Knisley, are being prosecuted for allegedly allowing a copy of a hard drive to be made during an update of election equipment in May 2021. Amid condemnation of the statement, the National Association of Hispanic Journalistssaid: “We are not tacos. Among Democrats then, the figure was 49%. He’s since been charged with rape, a felony of the first degree in Ohio. On June 30, the girl underwent a medical abortion in Indianapolis, Huhn said. Ohio was one of the states whose law greatly restricting access to abortions took effect after the court ruling, and news of the girl’s ordeal sparked outrage over its consequences. They wouldn’t leave him loose on the streets ... I’m not saying it could not have happened. Among Democrats then, the figure was 49%.

Joe Battenfeld is a columnist for the Boston Herald. New concerns about Joe Biden's age and mental and physical health are raising the question: What is the ...

The whispers about him quitting could become a torrent of stories speculating he won’t last. With the midterms coming up and Democrats facing a possible shellacking, Biden’s fortunes could only get worse. “He stumbles over words during public events, and they hold their breath to see if he makes it to the end without a gaffe.”

Shunning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman didn't work. Whether the two leaders can rebuild trust is an open question.

This time, Mr. Biden has personally led the anti-Saudi chorus by labeling the kingdom a “pariah” and refusing to talk with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the 1973 oil embargo and after Sept. 11, the White House worked quietly to preserve its relationship with the Saudis, despite public anger at the kingdom. President Biden’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this week offers an opportunity to repair a relationship crucial to Mideast security.

Ben Gurion AirportTel Aviv, Israel 3:44 P.M. IDT THE PRESIDENT: President Herzog, Mr. Prime Minister Lapid, it's an honor to once again stand with.

And I mean that: for the benefit of the entire world. That remains, in my view, the best way to ensure the future of equal measure of freedom, prosperity, and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Wherever we find it in the world, we make real on the promise of “never again” by taking it on. I’m looking forward to our time together over the next few days. And I remember he taught us all about what happened in the Holocaust. “Why weren’t the tra- — tracks bombed? And with this visit, we are strengthening our connections even further.

Try as he might, the president can't escape the impact that Donald Trump had in the region.

Biden may have to soon once again deal with Netanyahu — who himself may in a couple years’ time get Trump back. Biden is unlikely to form such a relationship with Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, especially since Lapid may no longer lead the country following Israel’s fifth elections in under four years this fall. His administration views it as a no-win cause, not least because neither of the parties seems truly ready for serious talks. Trump was greeted with a lavish ceremony that featured a traditional Saudi sword dance. And it’s trying, but failing, to revive the Iran nuclear deal that Trump tore apart in 2018. The Biden White House wants to build on what Trump started. “Are the Palestinian people excited about the visit? Biden’s visit to the West Bank, where he’s supposed to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, could prove unusually sensitive. Trump and Abbas met in 2017 in Bethlehem, a session some reports indicated was tense and awkward. Like Candyman,” said Kirsten Fontenrose, a former top National Security Council official for the Gulf in the Trump administration. Arab nations had long made it clear that they would not negotiate with Israel until the Palestinians received an independent state of their own. Biden may have no incentive to discuss his predecessor.

By the time he finally achieved the office he longed for, he was far past his prime. Trump had left the country in ruins, its institutions collapsing, much of ...

But the presidency ages even young men, and Biden is far from young; a country in as much trouble as ours needs a leader vigorous enough to inspire confidence. But by receding so far into the background, he forfeits the ability to set the public agenda. Now, I didn’t want Biden to be the Democratic nominee in 2020, partly for ideological reasons but even more because he seemed too worn-out and unfocused. Certainly, there’s something nice about a president who doesn’t torment the country with his vampiric thirst for attention. Trump had left the country in ruins, its institutions collapsing, much of the population gripped by furious delusions, and millions traumatized by the pandemic. Many of the crises driving down Biden’s approval numbers are not his fault.

Joe Biden is struggling—can someone replace him as the Democratic nominee in 2024? Who would that be? Kamala? Beto? Stacey Abrams?

Shunning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman didn't work. Whether the two leaders can rebuild trust is an open question.

This time, Mr. Biden has personally led the anti-Saudi chorus by labeling the kingdom a “pariah” and refusing to talk with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the 1973 oil embargo and after Sept. 11, the White House worked quietly to preserve its relationship with the Saudis, despite public anger at the kingdom. President Biden’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this week offers an opportunity to repair a relationship crucial to Mideast security.

Responsibility for the public failure of this government lies with the Democratic Party.

- Opinion: The Inflation Tax on Workers You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. The New York Times reported that its poll with Siena College finds 64% of Democrats, not even waiting for the midterm election results, want their candidate in 2024 to be someone other than the president.

Shunning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman didn't work. Whether the two leaders can rebuild trust is an open question.

This time, Mr. Biden has personally led the anti-Saudi chorus by labeling the kingdom a “pariah” and refusing to talk with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the 1973 oil embargo and after Sept. 11, the White House worked quietly to preserve its relationship with the Saudis, despite public anger at the kingdom. President Biden’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this week offers an opportunity to repair a relationship crucial to Mideast security.

Politico published a report Wednesday that highlighted the impact of President Donald Trump's legacy on the Biden administration's policies toward the ...

Biden told reporters upon landing in the country that "the connection between the Israeli people and the American people is bone-deep." But his team has not shied away from touting a rare area of agreement it has with ‘the former guy,’" they wrote. "For most of his presidency, Joe Biden has ignored or minimized talk about his immediate predecessor, or, as he once called him, ‘the former guy,’" Politico reported.

The president wanted to ostracize Saudi Arabia over human rights. That was before the price of oil hit the US economy.

While today's headline inflation reading is unacceptably high, it is also out-of-date. Energy alone comprised nearly half of the monthly increase in.

I will continue my historic release of oil from our strategic petroleum reserve. Oil and gas companies must not use this moment as an excuse for profiting by not passing along savings at the pump. Here is what I will do: First, I will continue to do everything I can to bring down the price of gas. Today’s data does not reflect the full impact of nearly 30 days of decreases in gas prices, that have reduced the price at the pump by about 40 cents since mid-June. Those savings are providing important breathing room for American families. Energy alone comprised nearly half of the monthly increase in inflation.

Amid failing nuclear talks with Iran, the president looks to bolster regional defense and build on the historic Abraham Accords.

In a recent Washington Post opinion piece with the headline “Why I’m going to Saudi Arabia,” Biden vowed to ratchet up economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran to force it into an agreement that curtails its nuclear program. Bolstering formal and informal military cooperation among its allies will be crucial to the U.S.’s deterrent posture in the region. “The Sunni Arab states and Israel have long shared a common threat picture on Iran,” Roule said. Time has run out [on the 2015 Iran deal], and it is crucial to exert pressure on Iran.” An acute global energy crisis has a way of sharpening some of the decision-making here in the U.S.” Now, the administration is trying to course correct amid deteriorating indirect negotiations with Iran and new challenges posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. “We should be fully focused on the needs of those allies and much less, or perhaps not at all, focused on what the Europeans want.” The U.S.-brokered and Israel-approved handover of two strategically located islands from Egyptian to Saudi control is considered a significant, albeit incremental, step toward diplomatic cooperation. We have seen a growing number of Red Sea naval exercises that included multiple regional partners,” Norman Roule, former senior U.S. intelligence official, told The Dispatch. “Although Riyadh doesn’t participate formally in these exercises, Riyadh pays very close attention to their execution and lessons learned.” In theory, such a pact would encourage Israel and the Arab states—including Saudi Arabia, which hasn’t yet normalized relations with Jerusalem—to work together to counter drone, missile, and rocket attacks from Iran and Iranian-backed groups. For the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia in particular, openly working with Israel on air defense would be politically damaging at home. So military technology is something that I think the Israelis are going to have to be very careful about.”

The sobering numbers, caused by high energy prices, will be top of the agenda as President Biden tours the Middle East.

Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic strategist, said voters rarely make their choice based on one issue, even one as personal as the economy. “And we’ve been so quick to move onto the next thing to fix that we have not clearly articulated what we have done.” High inflation has weighed down Biden’s approval rating and soured the national mood ahead of the November elections. The findings suggest that fury over the supreme court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion and a spate of high-profile mass shootings and shocking revelations about Donald Trump’s attempt to cling to power are shielding Democrats from a punishing result this fall. Republicans seized on the report, accusing Democratic policies of fueling the spike. Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia and a critical swing-vote in the evenly divided chamber, said he planned to proceed “very very” cautiously.

President Joe Biden is meeting multiple Israeli leaders abroad, Brittney Griner's trial in Russia goes on and more news to start your Thursday.

In a statement Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Moscow to halt forced deportations in areas of Ukraine controlled by Russia, saying an estimated 900,000 to 1.6 million Ukrainians have been "interrogated, detained, and forcibly deported" to Russia. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, his military forces have been accused of abuses ranging from killings in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha to deadly attacks on civilian facilities. In what experts say is an attempt to avoid showing favoritism in the upcoming election, Biden also will meet with ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the opposition party who is vying to make a comeback. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court called Thursday for an international "overarching strategy" to coordinate efforts to bring perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine to justice. Migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador also were among those who died in the deadliest known smuggling attempt in the United States. American basketball star Brittney Griner is due back in a Russian court Thursday to resume a trial that was jolted last week when she abruptly pleaded guilty to drug possession charges.

President Joe Biden's reelection prospects have seemed doubtful for months now. Many voters think the nation's oldest president ever — he turns 80 in ...

What is perhaps more newsworthy now is that the media institution most respected among Democrats, especially Democratic opinion leaders, has so frankly put the spotlight on Biden’s problems. Now, the Times has published a devastating poll the paper conducted with Siena College. The survey found that 64% of Democratic voters want a different nominee in 2024 — just 26% want the party to renominate the president. They have been concerned about his ability to handle the world’s most demanding job. For many Americans, the simpler way of saying that is “too old.” From a Democratic perspective, it is one thing when Republicans complain about Biden. It is another when The New York Times does it. Biden’s aides acknowledge that he “looks older than just a few years ago,” the Times reported, calling that a “political liability that cannot be solved by traditional White House stratagems like staff shake-ups or new communications plans.” While the Times called Biden’s energy level “impressive for a man of his age,” it nevertheless said Biden’s energy “is not what it was, and some aides quietly watch out for him.””[Biden] often shuffles when he walks, and aides worry he will trip on a wire,” the Times reported. “‘I’m just going to come out and say it: I want younger blood,’ said Nicole Farrier, a 38-year-old preschool teacher in East Tawas, a small town in northern Michigan. ‘I am so tired of all old people running our country. Voters have long been concerned about the president’s age. The Times reported: “He hasn’t done what I think he’s capable of doing as president to help the American people,” said Kelly King, a former factory worker in Greensburg, Indiana. “As a Democrat, I figured he would really be on our side and put us back on the right track. And I just feel like he’s not.” The article clearly suggested Biden is too old to be president. In all, Biden’s age has become an “uncomfortable issue” for Democrats, the paper reported.

Biden is underwater on just about any issue you can name: from inflation and the economy to immigration and crime. Nearly three-quarters of Americans doubt his ...

They cannot win the presidency without getting close to 52 percent of the popular vote and even that margin gives them only about a 50-50 shot of winning the Electoral College. He's since been charged with rape, a felony of the first degree in Ohio. There is, of course, another reason that the Democrats may not decide to jettison their elder statesman. clarifying. It would remove any ambiguity about the stakes or the nature of the decision voters would face; and it would starkly remind voters of the binary choice that framed Biden’s 2020 victory. Imagine a short history of the near future: in 2023/24 a GOP Congress held hostage by its president-in-waiting, who would bully, threaten, and goad it into overreach and paralysis. The Yahoo News/YouGov poll has him up 44 percent to 43 percent in a 2024 re-match. Amid the Jan. 6 hearings, most voters (52%) now think “Trump committed a crime by trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election”; even more (54%) think the U.S. Department of Justice should prosecute him. It would force the political discourse away from issues that benefit Republicans, like inflation, and toward subjects that are more favorable to Democrats, like Trump’s rantings about Jan. 6 and a “stolen” 2020 election. The threat of Trump was, after all, Biden’s stated reason for running in the first place. Obviously, Biden needs the economy to stabilize and inflation to fade away. This has, inevitably, sparked a herd of doleful takes on the Democratic angst, like this, “ Should Biden Run in 2024? Nearly three-quarters of Americans doubt his ability to bring the country together.

President Joe Biden sought to reaffirm U.S. support for Israel and present a united front between the two nations on a range of issues from Iran to ...

Biden is also planning to meet with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as it is customary for visiting presidents to also meet with the head of the Israeli opposition party, Sullivan said. In addition, Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who will present him with the presidential medal of honor. A key topic among the leaders will be Israel’s efforts to improve relations with its Arab neighbors. During the two days of his visit to Israel, Biden has sought to show a united front with Israel while reaffirming U.S. support for Israel's security. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force. The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table," Lapid said during the press conference.

July 14, 2022 at 6:00 a.m.. President Joe Biden's reelection prospects have seemed doubtful for months now. Many voters think the nation's oldest president ever ...

The poll offered one “glimmer” of good news for Democrats: Even in his weakened condition, Biden could still narrowly defeat Donald Trump 44% to 41%, in a hypothetical 2024 head-to-head matchup. What is perhaps more newsworthy now is that the media institution most respected among Democrats, especially Democratic opinion leaders, has so frankly put the spotlight on Biden’s problems. Now, the Times has published a devastating poll the paper conducted with Siena College. The survey found that 64% of Democratic voters want a different nominee in 2024 — just 26% want the party to renominate the president. They have been concerned about his ability to handle the world’s most demanding job. From a Democratic perspective, it is one thing when Republicans complain about Biden. It is another when The New York Times does it. For many Americans, the simpler way of saying that is “too old.” Voters have long been concerned about the president’s age. “‘I’m just going to come out and say it: I want younger blood,’ said Nicole Farrier, a 38-year-old preschool teacher in East Tawas, a small town in northern Michigan. ‘I am so tired of all old people running our country. The Times reported: “He hasn’t done what I think he’s capable of doing as president to help the American people,” said Kelly King, a former factory worker in Greensburg, Indiana. “As a Democrat, I figured he would really be on our side and put us back on the right track. He sometimes loses his train of thought, has trouble summoning names or appears momentarily confused.” During the European trip, the paper said, Biden’s fellow leaders “protectively treat[ed] him like a distinguished elderly relative.” The article clearly suggested Biden is too old to be president. In all, Biden’s age has become an “uncomfortable issue” for Democrats, the paper reported.

While President Biden continues his trip to Israel, the Iranian threat remains very real.

And the way to deal with that regime is to be forceful and unafraid. This can be achieved by more forcefully demonstrating that the military option to strike at Iran's nuclear program is on the table, responding to Tehran's regional provocations with force, aggressively enforcing U.S. sanctions, and pressing European allies to impose their own sanctions—the EU has only levied two rounds of designations on Iran since 2013. But Jerusalem appears to believe they may cause Tehran's decision makers to reassess whether the benefits of terrorism abroad outweigh the costs that it will pay at home. The State Department has repeated for over a year that the window is closing on the negotiations. He only signaled that diplomatic and economic pressure was on the table. Israel has in recent weeks unleashed its " Octopus Doctrine" against the Islamic Republic, targeting a regime officer in the heart of Tehran unconnected to the nuclear program. Israel has not only engaged in kinetic operations, but also made well-timed disclosures in the media to exploit preexisting fissures in the Iranian leadership. Unfortunately, to date, the U.S. has taken precisely the opposite approach. This policy has left U.S. and European allies and partners exposed to the threat of an increasingly dangerous regime that is not used to being held accountable. In Israel, President Biden will engage with a caretaker political leadership and a country that is headed to its fifth election in just over three years. In the past, Jerusalem focused on targeted killings of Iranian nuclear scientists and striking at Iran and its proxy network abroad. The message to Iran was clear: your institutions are compromised by foreign agents.

The president mistakenly said people should keep alive "honor of the Holocaust" during remarks in Israel Wednesday.

And we want to make sure that we're taking those precautions to keep him safe and to keep all of us safe." U.S. intelligence has concluded that bin Salman was responsible for ordering the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and a photo op shaking hands with the crown prince could prove politically difficult. But also, there are precautions that we are taking because this is up to his doctor," she said. The two men strongly disagreed about a U.S. nuclear deal with Iran made during the Obama administration. Upon arriving at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, he offered a fist bump to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog. Biden's visit to the region began with a trip to Israel on Wednesday where he was expected to observe a policy of not shaking hands with the people he met due to concerns regarding COVID-19.

Many of the president's own aides and fellow Democrats believe he is set to be played by the kingdom and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Muhammed bin ...

The shift could mean the U.S. would again supply the Saudis with bombs like those they have used to kill civilians ― and could be followed by a flood of new arms deals for Riyadh, in an echo of the Trump era. “If this trip is going to be worth it, the United States needs Saudi Arabia to make real commitments to improve its human rights record, provide justice for political dissenters and their families, and end the war in Yemen. … Biden should make clear that without real commitments on these key issues, the United States’ willingness to continue as Saudi Arabia’s security partner is at risk.” Key lawmakers working on global affairs are concerned about “how little the administration is getting in return for an open-armed, public embrace of MBS,” said a senior congressional aide, using a common nickname for the prince. But Biden’s examples of progress toward peace — in Yemen and between Israel and the Palestinians — represent pauses in conflict rather than lasting resolutions to deep fundamental tensions. Saudi officials have pushed for the move in multiple meetings, Reuters reported on July 11. On Saturday, Biden acknowledged the broad wariness about his plan by taking the rare step of issuing a preemptive justification for the visit. And on Capitol Hill, many of Biden’s fellow Democrats believe he is set to be played by the kingdom and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman. White House outreach to human rights groups and progressive activists left multiple recipients doubtful that Biden would do anything to rein in alarming Saudi repression. “Over and over again, the Saudi government acts in ways that are directly contrary to U.S. security interests, and over and over again, the United States just looks the other way,” Murphy wrote. “They were wanting to focus it on this micro issue of individual cases [of people targeted by the Saudi government]. ... It’s very convenient: They can say, ‘Oh, yes, this was raised privately,’ while doing their best to secure U.S. hegemony, U.S. arms sales and defense for Israel at great risk,” said the first attendee. In a Washington Post opinion piece, the president argued that he is promoting peace and uniting American partners in the region and said he “reversed the blank-check policy” toward the crown prince of his predecessor Donald Trump by publicly tying the prince to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and sanctioning several Saudis. Within the administration, skeptical national security staffers see the Saudi stint as hypocritical and unlikely to boost American interests ― with some calling it a “Summit for Autocracy” in a pointed reference to Biden’s “ Summit for Democracy” last December, according to one U.S. official.

Responsibility for the public failure of this government lies with the Democratic Party.

- Opinion: Correcting the Record on a Rape Case You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. The New York Times reported that its poll with Siena College finds 64% of Democrats, not even waiting for the midterm election results, want their candidate in 2024 to be someone other than the president.

Responsibility for the public failure of this government lies with the Democratic Party.

- Opinion: Correcting the Record on a Rape Case You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. The New York Times reported that its poll with Siena College finds 64% of Democrats, not even waiting for the midterm election results, want their candidate in 2024 to be someone other than the president.

July 14, 2022 at 6:43 a.m.. President Joe Biden's reelection prospects have seemed doubtful for months now. Many voters think the nation's oldest president ever ...

The poll offered one “glimmer” of good news for Democrats: Even in his weakened condition, Biden could still narrowly defeat Donald Trump 44% to 41%, in a hypothetical 2024 head-to-head matchup. What is perhaps more newsworthy now is that the media institution most respected among Democrats, especially Democratic opinion leaders, has so frankly put the spotlight on Biden’s problems. Now, the Times has published a devastating poll the paper conducted with Siena College. The survey found that 64% of Democratic voters want a different nominee in 2024 — just 26% want the party to renominate the president. They have been concerned about his ability to handle the world’s most demanding job. From a Democratic perspective, it is one thing when Republicans complain about Biden. It is another when The New York Times does it. For many Americans, the simpler way of saying that is “too old.” Voters have long been concerned about the president’s age. “‘I’m just going to come out and say it: I want younger blood,’ said Nicole Farrier, a 38-year-old preschool teacher in East Tawas, a small town in northern Michigan. ‘I am so tired of all old people running our country. The Times reported: “He hasn’t done what I think he’s capable of doing as president to help the American people,” said Kelly King, a former factory worker in Greensburg, Indiana. “As a Democrat, I figured he would really be on our side and put us back on the right track. He sometimes loses his train of thought, has trouble summoning names or appears momentarily confused.” During the European trip, the paper said, Biden’s fellow leaders “protectively treat[ed] him like a distinguished elderly relative.” The article clearly suggested Biden is too old to be president. In all, Biden’s age has become an “uncomfortable issue” for Democrats, the paper reported.

President Joe Biden on Thursday said the US will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and that he believed diplomacy remained the best avenue to keep ...

Netanyahu made no secret of his disregard for former President Barack Obama -- the feeling, by all accounts, was mutual -- and Biden was badly embarrassed when a visit to Israel as vice president in 2010 coincided with an Israeli government announcement approving plans for new settlement homes. Iran was a main topic of discussion during Biden and Lapid's bilateral meeting on Thursday, and the two leaders signed a new joint declaration on Thursday aimed at expanding the security relationship between their nations and countering what they described as efforts by Iran to destabilize the region. He continued, "And the best way to achieve that remains a two-state solution for two people, both of whom have deep and ancient roots in this land living side-by-side in peace and security. The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table," Lapid said. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force. He added, "I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday publicly urged President Joe Biden to threaten the use of military force against Iran to deter the development ...

If anyone doesn’t understand it in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, then they haven’t been around for a while.” “The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force. The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table.” “[Iranian officials] have an opportunity to accept this agreement that’s been laid down,” Biden said. Prior to their news conference on Thursday, Biden and Lapid signed a joint declaration committing “never to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon” and affirming that the United States “is prepared to use all elements of its national power to ensure that outcome.” Appearing alongside Biden at a joint news conference in Jerusalem, Lapid told reporters the Iranian regime “must know that if they continue to deceive the world, they will pay a heavy price.”

ISTANBUL — Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, described Joe Biden's decision to visit Saudi Arabia as “heartbreaking,” ...

“He has to ask what happened to his body? “It’s a very huge backing down actually,” Cengiz said of Biden’s decision to reset diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia now. “Instead of being different now, he’s doing the same and embracing dictators in the region right now. At the time of his murder, Khashoggi was a U.S. resident and contributing columnist for The Washington Post who had written articles critical of the crown prince’s widening crackdown on activists. A U.S. intelligence report that Biden declassified after coming to office said Khashoggi’s killing could not have happened without Prince Mohammed’s knowledge. She also wants Biden to seek more answers from Saudi authorities over what happened to Khashoggi’s remains.

Republican senator claims Democrats' proposal would encourage 'abortion tourism' – follow the latest.

I think a lot of people would not even run if I did that because, if you look at the polls, they don’t even register. According to Axios, “The deal includes moving multilateral forces of observers currently on Tiran and Sanafir to new positions in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, as well as cameras to monitor activity on islands and the Strait of Tiran.” Saudi Arabia would pledge to allow ships to pass along the islands, while the United States would give Israel security commitments under that deal, the report said. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program the free world will use force,” Lapid said. “This bill would give fly-in abortionists free rein to commit abortions on demand up to the moment of birth,” Daines said. “I would say my big decision will be whether I go before or after,” he said. “This bill would give fly-in abortionists free rein to commit abortions on demand up to the moment of birth,” Daines said. While it’s unclear if the deal will result in an agreement for Riyadh to fully recognize Israel, which it has never done before, Biden could seize on it as a win that would be comparable to what Donald Trump pulled off during his term. The Washington Post reports that he’s leaning towards announcing before the November midterm elections, which some Republicans don’t think is a good idea. In my own mind, I’ve already made that decision,” he said. Democrats attempted to get the senate to pass the measure unanimously on Thursday, but Republicans refused to do so. It’s his first trip to the Middle East as president. Democrats attempted to get the senate to pass the measure unanimously on Thursday, but Republicans refused to do so.

If Joe Biden doesn't run for re-election in 2024, who could replace him on the Democratic ticket? There is a large list of possible choices.

A 1945 Contributing Editor, Dr. Robert Farley has taught security and diplomacy courses at the Patterson School since 2005. Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky is perhaps the most interesting longshot. Fairly or no, if Joe Biden decides not to pursue re-election explanations will focus on his age, and in this context, it won’t make much sense to nominate a successor with the same issue. It is true that Vice President Harris’ popularity numbers have suffered even more than President Biden’s, and that she has yet to develop a strong rapport with the media gatekeepers who will structure political coverage in 2024. Apart from Harris, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg likely cuts the most impressive figure. A primary race in the shadow of an eligible incumbent could play out much differently than a typical Presidential primary.

President says he will not avoid rights issues but skirts commitment to discuss Khashoggi murder.

Israel made no mention of the peace process, instead promising to improve the economy and quality of life for the 5 million people living in the occupied Palestinian territories. Talks to revive the accord began in April 2021, but have made little progress. “The reason I am going to Saudi Arabia though, is much broader, it’s to promote US interests.

That comes a day after Joe Biden said he'd be willing to use force as a last resort against Tehran if necessary.

Lapid’s main opponent is former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the joint appearance with Biden could help burnish his credentials as a statesman and leader. “I always bring up human rights,” Biden said at the news conference. “I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome,” he said. But administration officials have become increasingly pessimistic about the chances of getting Tehran back into compliance. Asked in the Channel 12 interview if he expected a rematch, Biden replied, “I’m not predicting, but I would not be disappointed.” “But my position on Khashoggi has been so clear. “The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table.” In the joint statement, the United States said it is ready to use “all elements of its national power” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. The U.S. president, who is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday, said he also stressed to Lapid the importance of Israel becoming “totally integrated” in the region. At a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid following private talks about Iran’s rapidly progressing nuclear program, Biden said the U.S. had laid out for the Iranian leadership a path to return to the nuclear deal and was still waiting for a response. Even as he suggested that his patience with Iran was running low, Biden held out hope that Iran can be persuaded to rejoin the agreement. JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United States is “not going to wait forever” for Iran to rejoin a dormant nuclear deal, a day after saying he’d be willing to use force against Tehran as a last resort, if necessary.

President Joe Biden and the Israeli Prime Minister reaffirmed the "unbreakable bonds" between their two countries.

Biden shared the Israeli President's ties to Ireland with the pool of reporters. Biden reiterated that the U.S. and Israel "will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon." Biden earned this honor because of his commitment to bolstering Israel's security, strengthening the U.S-Israel relationship and fighting against anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment, Herzog said. He called Israel a "leader" in the region and noted that Israel is growing more secure, integrated, confident and building great relationships with its neighbors. He went on to say Iran "must know that if they continue to deceive the world, they will pay a heavy price." The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program the free world will use force," Lapid said, according to a summation of his comments shared on the prime minister's website. Biden and Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid discussed Iran during a news conference in Jerusalem that followed a meeting between the two leaders. Lapid said Iran will "pay a heavy price" if the regime does not cooperate in ongoing nuclear talks. Herzog said Biden is a "true friend" to the state of Israel, the people of Israel and the Jewish people. His comments about the U.S.-Israel friendship came as new polling indicated support for Biden among American voters has continued to drop. Seeing Israel "thrive" and seeing the dreams of its founders "grow into reality" is "close to miraculous," Biden said. - During a joint press conference with Lapid, Biden said the U.S. is "not going to wait forever" for Iran to rejoin the nuclear deal and said the U.S. will make sure Iran never obtained nuclear weapons.

July 14, 2022 at 6:43 a.m.. President Joe Biden's reelection prospects have seemed doubtful for months now. Many voters think the nation's oldest president ever ...

The poll offered one “glimmer” of good news for Democrats: Even in his weakened condition, Biden could still narrowly defeat Donald Trump 44% to 41%, in a hypothetical 2024 head-to-head matchup. What is perhaps more newsworthy now is that the media institution most respected among Democrats, especially Democratic opinion leaders, has so frankly put the spotlight on Biden’s problems. Now, the Times has published a devastating poll the paper conducted with Siena College. The survey found that 64% of Democratic voters want a different nominee in 2024 — just 26% want the party to renominate the president. They have been concerned about his ability to handle the world’s most demanding job. From a Democratic perspective, it is one thing when Republicans complain about Biden. It is another when The New York Times does it. For many Americans, the simpler way of saying that is “too old.” Voters have long been concerned about the president’s age. “‘I’m just going to come out and say it: I want younger blood,’ said Nicole Farrier, a 38-year-old preschool teacher in East Tawas, a small town in northern Michigan. ‘I am so tired of all old people running our country. The Times reported: “He hasn’t done what I think he’s capable of doing as president to help the American people,” said Kelly King, a former factory worker in Greensburg, Indiana. “As a Democrat, I figured he would really be on our side and put us back on the right track. He sometimes loses his train of thought, has trouble summoning names or appears momentarily confused.” During the European trip, the paper said, Biden’s fellow leaders “protectively treat[ed] him like a distinguished elderly relative.” The article clearly suggested Biden is too old to be president. In all, Biden’s age has become an “uncomfortable issue” for Democrats, the paper reported.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid stood side-by-side and declared they would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power.

“Your visit to Saudi Arabia is important for Israel and for the region,” Lapid added. For Israel to come to such an agreement with the Saudis, an economic and Islamic epicenter in the Mideast, would be even more significant. “I always bring up human rights,” Biden said at the news conference. Thursday’s appearances with Lapid could provide a boost to Israeli prime minister, who is serving in an interim capacity until elections in November, the fifth in less than four years. “The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program the free world will use force.” Biden warned that his patience is wearing thin for Iran to rejoin the nuclear deal, a day after saying he’d be willing to use force against Tehran as a last resort. Biden met briefly behind closed doors with Netanyahu, with whom who he’s had a rocky relationship. But administration officials have become increasingly pessimistic about the chances of getting Tehran back into compliance. The U.S. president, who is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Friday, said he also stressed to Lapid the importance of Israel becoming “totally integrated” in the region. In the joint statement, the United States said it is ready to use “all elements of its national power” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. They parted ways, though, on how to get there. The president said the U.S. had laid out for the Iranian leadership a path to return to the nuclear deal and was still waiting for a response.

Shunning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman didn't work. Whether the two leaders can rebuild trust is an open question.

This time, Mr. Biden has personally led the anti-Saudi chorus by labeling the kingdom a “pariah” and refusing to talk with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the 1973 oil embargo and after Sept. 11, the White House worked quietly to preserve its relationship with the Saudis, despite public anger at the kingdom. President Biden’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this week offers an opportunity to repair a relationship crucial to Mideast security.

Responsibility for the public failure of this government lies with the Democratic Party.

- Opinion: Welcome to the Full-Employment Recession You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. The New York Times reported that its poll with Siena College finds 64% of Democrats, not even waiting for the midterm election results, want their candidate in 2024 to be someone other than the president.

President Joe Biden on Thursday stopped short of committing to raise the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi with leaders in Saudi Arabia this week, ...

Biden said Thursday that the reason he is going to Saudi Arabia is "much broader" than just oil and that he is traveling there to promote US interests. The President earlier on Thursday had defended his decision to travel to Saudi Arabia and meet with MBS, which has garnered bipartisan criticism back home. According to Biden's schedule, the Saudi king will only be present for about 30 minutes during the bilateral meetings Friday night.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday lectured U.S. President Biden on the growing threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, warning that "diplomacy will not ...

The meeting with the crown prince will be closely monitored. “The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force,” Mr. Lapid said. Mr. Biden is on his first trip to the Middle East as president. Mr. Biden will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank on Friday and reiterate U.S. support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The Iranian regime must know that if they continue to deceive the world, they will pay a heavy price,” Mr. Lapid said. “The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table.”

President Joe Biden will announce $316 million in US aid for the Palestinians on Friday, as he seeks to revive US ties with the Palestinian Authority with a ...

Rising prices have become a hallmark of the Joe Biden administration, and Wednesday's Producer Price Index spike was the latest inflation vexation for one ...

They can’t afford the gas, the food, the rent that’s gone up,” said Scott at a Senate Republican leadership press conference this week. Many of the biggest spikes over the last 12 months were in energy, as a media release from Scott’s office notes, with natural gas, home heating oil and gasoline driving the action. He needs to wake up or resign immediately,” Scott added, making his latest in a series of unheeded calls for Biden to step down.

The survey found that 64% of Democratic voters want a different nominee in 2024 — just 26% want the party to renominate the president. On top of that, the poll ...

The poll offered one “glimmer” of good news for Democrats: Even in his weakened condition, Biden could still narrowly defeat Donald Trump 44% to 41%, in a hypothetical 2024 head-to-head matchup. What is perhaps more newsworthy now is that the media institution most respected among Democrats, especially Democratic opinion leaders, has so frankly put the spotlight on Biden’s problems. Now, the Times has published a devastating poll the paper conducted with Siena College. The survey found that 64% of Democratic voters want a different nominee in 2024 — just 26% want the party to renominate the president. They have been concerned about his ability to handle the world’s most demanding job. For many Americans, the simpler way of saying that is “too old.” From a Democratic perspective, it is one thing when Republicans complain about Biden. It is another when The New York Times does it. Voters have long been concerned about the president’s age. “’I’m just going to come out and say it: I want younger blood,’ said Nicole Farrier, a 38-year-old preschool teacher in East Tawas, a small town in northern Michigan. ‘I am so tired of all old people running our country. The Times reported: “He hasn’t done what I think he’s capable of doing as president to help the American people,” said Kelly King, a former factory worker in Greensburg, Indiana. “As a Democrat, I figured he would really be on our side and put us back on the right track. He sometimes loses his train of thought, has trouble summoning names or appears momentarily confused.” During the European trip, the paper said, Biden’s fellow leaders “protectively treat[ed] him like a distinguished elderly relative.” The article clearly suggested Biden is too old to be president. In all, Biden’s age has become an “uncomfortable issue” for Democrats, the paper reported.

Responsibility for the public failure of this government lies with the Democratic Party.

- Opinion: Welcome to the Full-Employment Recession You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service. The New York Times reported that its poll with Siena College finds 64% of Democrats, not even waiting for the midterm election results, want their candidate in 2024 to be someone other than the president.

Trump and Netanyahu shared anti-democratic values. Can Biden and Lapid reverse that turn?

The success of anti-democratic demagoguery in the United States and Israel is part of a global trend, one that encompasses countries as diverse as India, Hungary, the Philippines, and Brazil. No one has found a silver bullet that pro-democratic leaders can use to manufacture a new consensus that can exclude these forces from power; the roots of their support run too deep. The change in leadership in both Washington and Jerusalem created an opportunity for a recalibration of the US-Israel relationship. Expecting Biden and Lapid’s coalition to solve such a problem after roughly a year in power is expecting a miracle. Biden and Lapid’s core theory — that a centrist consensus lurks beneath the surface of intense polarization, ready to be brought out by a daring politician — seems questionable at best. Biden and Lapid are in weak political positions ahead of critical fall elections in both countries, which could well lead to a Republican-controlled Congress and Netanyahu’s return to the premiership. “The great Israeli question is actually why, in a period in which we have wide national agreement on all the important topics, the levels of hate and anxiety within Israeli society are so high,” he said. Instead, he allowed Naftali Bennett, leader of the right-wing Yamina party, to take the top spot at the outset to guarantee his participation in an alliance with the center and left. Israeli polls reveal an electorate as profoundly divided between pro- and anti-Netanyahu parties as ever, one that could very plausibly return the former leader to power if a few things break his way. In reality, the announcements are not the kind of game changers that would merit a presidential visit on their own. The centrist Lapid is: He and Biden are the first president-prime minister pair to truly support a Palestinian state in nearly 15 years. Both leaders represent a kind of consensus-based politics, seeing their central tasks as saving their country’s democracy from the ravages of political polarization. During Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure, from 2009 to 2021, the right-wing Israeli prime minister acted almost like a partisan agent, working with Republicans to undermine Barack Obama’s Middle East policy and embracing Donald Trump in a way few other democratic leaders would.

LOD, ISRAEL - JULY 13: U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. After spending the last two days in Israel, ...

That opens the possibility for a return to power for Benjamin Netanyahu, an antagonist to a peace deal that isn’t lopsided in Israel’s favor. But he did show support for a two-state solution while standing alongside Biden at a Thursday news conference in Jerusalem. “Abbas is too weak and lacks the legitimacy to negotiate a conflict-ending peace deal, much less deliver on it,” said Elgindy, who served as an adviser to Palestinian leadership in Ramallah on negotiations with Israel from 2004 to 2009. He hasn’t stood for election since 2006, the year voters put Hamas in power in Gaza, out of fear a similar result could dislodge him. While this all falls short of, say, reopening a consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem that Trump closed, the moves are the Biden team’s attempt at showing initial good faith. A $201 million chunk is for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, known as UNRWA, which provides refugee services in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and more.