The White House on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Saudi Arabia between July 13 and July 16.
The trip will “reinforce the United States’ iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security and prosperity” and see Biden “attend a Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] plus Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan,” according to a statement released by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The GCC is comprised of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
The U.S. leader will also “meet with counterparts from across the region, to advance U.S. security, economic and diplomatic interests,” the statement said.
He will head to Israel first, where he will meet with Israeli leaders to discuss Israel’s “security, prosperity and its increasing integration into the greater region,” it continued.
From there, Biden will travel to Judea and Samaria to consult with the P.A. leadership and “reiterate his strong support for a two-state solution, with equal measures of security, freedom and opportunity for the Palestinian people,” according to the White House.
He will then head to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—the current chair of the GCC and the venue for the summit—at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, said the statement.
“President Biden’s visit to Israel will deepen the special relationship and the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as strengthen the U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Israel and the region,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement released on Tuesday night.
“The president’s visit will also reveal the steps that are being taken by the U.S. to integrate Israel into the Middle East and increase the prosperity of the entire region. In addition to this, the U.S. and Israel will be forging agreements set to strengthen the civilian and security cooperation between the two countries and take the U.S.-Israel alliance to new heights,” the statement added. “The State of Israel welcomes President Biden’s visit to the region, including his important visit to Saudi Arabia, and thanks him for his efforts to strengthen the countries’ joint interests and expand regional peace.”
