Biden meets with Israel’s Herzog on Middle East conflict, humanitarian aid to Gaza

President Biden met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Tuesday, when the two leaders discussed the conflict with Lebanon, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and hostages still being held by Hamas.

The meeting, which Herzog called “very productive,” lasted about an hour. Herzog told reporters afterward that the Biden administration is willing to do everything possible to help Israel’s security before Jan. 20, when the presidency of Mr.

“President Biden was very kind, very open, very friendly, and we had an open and honest conversation,” Herzog told reporters. “And the most important thing in this conversation is the commitment of President Biden and the administration to work until January 20, until the last minute, to achieve the most important goals for peace and stability, and especially, the safety and security of the state of Israel in the Middle East.”

In the Oval Office, Herzog brought Mr. Biden’s gift, an artifact from the foot of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Herzog lamented the death of two Israelis who were killed in the Israeli city of Nahariya by rockets fired from Lebanon and described Iran as an evil regime.

“First we have to return the hostages,” said Herzog.

The Israeli government must meet a Wednesday deadline to increase aid to Gaza or face the consequences. In October, the Biden administration he warned Israel must dramatically increase the amount of aid reaching the people of Gaza, or it will face restrictions on US military support.

The Biden administration hopes to advance peace goals before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he spoke three times with Trump last week.