Israeli President Isaac Herzog travels to U.S. next week in response to Biden's invitation

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to Washington, D.C. next week at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden. This will be President Herzog’s first official visit to the United States since entering office on July 7, 2021.

During Herzog’s visit on Oct. 25-26, he will meet with U.S. senior administration officials, Senate and House leadership and Jewish community leaders. His meeting with Biden at the White House is scheduled for Wednesday.

The Israeli president’s trip to Washington follows an invitation from Biden during his recent visit to Israel in July. The two top officials intend to “reinforce the strong partnership between the U.S. and Israel and to reflect the deep ties between the two nations during these challenging times,” according to a statement issued by Israel’s Government Press Office.

Herzog and Biden will also discuss strategic, security, and economic issues, including joint initiatives concerning the climate crisis.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog – the brother of President Herzog – and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides will accompany Herzog during the official visit.

Biden, during the opening reception of his visit to Israel in July, stated that Israel and the U.S. “are united in our shared values and are our shared vision. May Israel and the United States continue to grow and prosper together for the benefit of the entire world.”

He also stated the importance of “expanding the historic Abraham Accords” to “deepen Israel’s integration into the region” and reaffirmed the “unshakable commitment of the United States to Israel’s security, including partnering with Israel on the most cutting-edge defense systems in the world.”

Biden’s statements were made during his administration’s ongoing negotiations for the failed Iranian 2015 nuclear peace deal.

Herzog’s visit to the U.S. takes place just one week before the Israeli citizens return to the polls for a fifth time in four years on Nov. 1. Opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud party) and current Israeli caretaker prime minister, Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid party) are the two main contenders amid a diverse selection of other party coalitions.

U.S. mid-term elections take place on Nov. 8.