In a historic meeting on Wednesday, United States President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed their commitment to forging a landmark peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The leaders, meeting for the first time since Netanyahu returned to power in December, demonstrated a desire to normalize relations between their countries.

During their talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, both leaders acknowledged the need to address their differences. Biden emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values and expressed his concerns about the controversial judicial reforms proposed by Israel's hard-right government. He also voiced his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The main focus of the meeting was the US-led initiative to establish diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu commended Biden's leadership and expressed optimism about achieving a historic peace that would not only resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict but also foster reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Jewish state. He highlighted the potential for genuine peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Netanyahu also commended Biden's unwavering commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He emphasized the importance of a credible military threat, crippling sanctions, and support for Iranians who oppose the regime as the best means to address this critical issue.

In a significant gesture, Biden formally invited Netanyahu to visit Washington by the end of the year, further strengthening the bond between the two leaders and their nations. Biden expressed hope that their discussions would lead to progress on various challenging issues, reaffirming the shared democratic values that underpin their partnership. While the meeting did not take place at the White House, as preferred by Netanyahu, the location did not diminish the significance of their talks. Both leaders demonstrated a commitment to making history, working towards peace in the region, and bringing about a positive transformation of international relations in the Middle East.