US Presidents Joe Biden and Israeli Yitzhak Herzog on Wednesday celebrated the understanding reached to demarcate the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon. At the White House, Biden, with Herzog next to him, welcomed Israel’s long-awaited understanding on the demarcation of the maritime border with Lebanon, especially since the agreement was brokered by the United States. Herzog said he had discussed with Biden the issue of Russia’s supplying Iranian weapons to help kill Ukrainians. Herzog told reporters that they also discussed Iran’s nuclear program and Tehran’s repression of its own citizens.
Biden said the border demarcation agreement between Lebanon and Israel would allow the two countries to develop energy fields, and would “create new hope and economic opportunities.” Among the issues raised during Biden’s meeting with Herzog is the Ukraine file, where the United States is leading international efforts to help the pro-Western state in confronting the Russian invasion. Israel is not enthusiastic about getting involved in the conflict, despite Kyiv’s pleas.
The Israeli president’s visit to Washington comes in the midst of tension over the fate of Iran’s nuclear activities, as the Biden administration is trying to revive the agreement between the major powers and Iran regarding its nuclear program, putting it once again under international supervision that guarantees its peacefulness in exchange for lifting sanctions. Israel opposes reviving the agreement.
However, Herzog’s visit highlights Israel’s concerns about the growing role of Iran, which is accused of providing Russia with drones that Moscow uses against Ukrainian civilian targets.
On Tuesday, Herzog met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and said that he had briefed the US side on information that, according to Israeli intelligence, proves the use of Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine.
Herzog’s visit came a few days before the legislative elections, which will be the fifth in Israel in less than four years, during which former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose relationship with the Democratic US administrations was tense, seeks to return to power.
The visit also comes less than two weeks before the midterm elections in the United States, in which Democrats are expected to lose their majority in Congress.