The United States rejected an Israeli request for its officials to accompany U.S. President Joe Biden on his planned visit to the Augusta Victoria Palestinian hospital in eastern Jerusalem, four Israeli officials told Axios.
The Israeli government was apparently not pleased by the U.S. response, with a senior Israeli official saying that it is a matter of Israeli sovereignty.
Former President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017, and since then, Israeli officials have accompanied U.S. officials on visits to eastern Jerusalem.
Biden plans to visit the hospital on Friday and then head to Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. Biden is expected to offer $100 million in American aid to Palestinian hospitals in eastern Jerusalem, reported Axios on Sunday.
According to the report, Israeli officials will continue to discuss the issue of allowing Israeli officials to join Biden’s visit to eastern Jerusalem.
