Israeli Army RADIO reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with the families of Israeli prisoners at Ben Gurion Airport, who will accompany him to Washington.
Netanyahu told reporters before leaving for Washington that Israel would be America’s strongest ally in the Middle East, regardless of who is elected president in November.
Netanyahu will thank Biden for all he has done for Israel.
“We will discuss releasing the prisoners and defeating Hamas,” he said.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, will become the first foreign leader to address the joint meetings of both houses four times, surpassing legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s three-time address.
US President Joe Biden and several Israeli ministers have said that a deal negotiated through mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US is possible. Under the scenario drawn up in May, the two sides would observe a six-week ceasefire and some Israeli hostages would be exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday (19/7) that negotiators were inside the 10-yard line and moving toward the goal line.
But Hamas has accused Netanyahu of trying to block the deal and Blinken said he wanted to get to the finish line while Netanyahu was in Washington.
The meeting between Netanyahu and Biden has yet to be confirmed. (Z-8)
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