Biden Receives Open Invitation from Netanyahu: Prospects of a Historic Israel-US Visit on the Horizon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended an invitation to President Joe Biden to visit Israel in the near future, and talks regarding the feasibility of the trip are underway, according to a reliable source known to CNN. The level of progress in these discussions and the potential timing of the visit remain uncertain.

The White House did not announce any new travel plans for the president on Sunday. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson stated, "We have no new travel to announce." If a trip were to occur, it would be a significant demonstration of President Biden's support for Israel as the nation deals with the aftermath of the devastating attacks carried out by Hamas over the past weekend.

Israel is indicating its readiness for a potential ground invasion of Gaza while the humanitarian situation worsens within the Palestinian enclave. President Biden has urged for the safeguarding of civilians, and efforts are underway to address scarcities of food, water, and gas. Additionally, a visit from Biden would serve as a signal to other regional actors, such as Hezbollah backed by Iran, to avoid escalating the conflict any further.

Following Secretary of State Antony Blinken's high-stakes shuttle diplomacy in the region over the past few days, President Biden is expected to undertake a trip with a similar objective. Like his top diplomat, the president will likely emphasize the importance of safeguarding civilian lives during his visit.

On Saturday, Biden had separate conversations with both Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. This marked the fifth telephone call between Biden and Netanyahu since the recent attack.

The Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, announced on Saturday that the US is sending another aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean. The purpose of this deployment is to deter hostile actions against Israel and to prevent any escalation of the ongoing conflict. Additional information has been added to this story.