Biden’s Whirlwind Israel Trip Fails to Calm Fears of Wider Middle East Conflict
- Arab leaders pulled out of planned meeting after Gaza blast
- Iran, allies threaten attack as Israel prepares invasion
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets US President Joe Biden upon his arrival to Tel Aviv.
Photographer: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
President Joe Biden’s 7.5-hour trip to Tel Aviv signaled full US backing for Israel but fell short on another key goal: winning over Arab leaders.
Amid growing signs the conflict may be spinning out of control, Biden made plain that the US will protect its ally, sending a clear message to rivals in the region like Iran to stay out of the fight. With one US aircraft carrier in the area and another on the way, Biden promised a new package of “unprecedented support.”