White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement regarding Israeli President Isaac Herzog's upcoming visit to Washington.
"President Biden looks forward to welcoming Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the White House on July 18," the statement opens.
"As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, the visit will highlight our enduring partnership and friendship. President Biden will reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel’s security," she adds.
According to Jean-Pierre, the two leaders will discuss opportunities to deepen Israel’s regional integration and to create a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East. "President Biden will stress the importance of our shared democratic values and discuss ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis," she added.
The leaders will also discuss Russia’s deepening military relationship with Iran and Iran’s destabilizing behavior in the region.
Vice President Harris will meet with President Herzog on July 19 at the White House. President Herzog will be in Washington July 18-19 for meetings with a range of interagency officials and to deliver a Joint Address to Congress.
The Israeli President's visit comes amid growing tensions between the Biden Administration and the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a recent interview with CNN, President Biden labeled the current government "the most extreme Israeli government I can remember."
Still, Prime Minister Netanyahu denies the notion that the relationship between the two nations is at a low point. "In fact, the security cooperation, military cooperation, and intel cooperation, including cyber, is stronger than it's ever been under our two governments," Netanyahu said in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Netanyahu says while he may not have been invited to the White House, he has met with many US officials in Israel and had many phone conversations, including with the president, "I may not go to Washington, but Washington is coming here with a steady flow."