Joe Biden landed in Jeddah after a historic flight as the first US president to fly directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia. The visit includes a long-awaited meeting with Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince and comes amid tensions over energy supplies, civil liberties and security cooperation. Spokesman Ilhan Omar says the trip “sends the wrong message to everyone who cares about human rights.” The trip is designed to restore the U.S. relationship with a country it once vowed to make a “pariah” on the world stage. Ahead of the visit, Israel and Saudi Arabia took a major step toward normalizing relations with an agreement on flights and Red Sea islands. Before flying to Jeddah, the president sought to mend ties with the Palestinians as he reaffirmed US support for “two states for two peoples.” However, he acknowledged that “the ground is not ripe” for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks. Mr Biden also announced just over $300m in aid to the Palestinians and commitments from Israel to roll out 4G in the West Bank and improve freedom of movement. After meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, Mr. Biden also visited the Temple of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
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Biden punches the Saudi crown prince
The much-anticipated meeting between Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman began shortly after the US president arrived in Jeddah on the next leg of his Middle East tour. Upon his arrival at the Al Salam Royal Palace on Friday, Biden exited the “Beast” and punched the crown prince who was on hand to greet him.
Joe Biden Punches Saudi Crown Prince Upon Arrival in Jeddah
The greeting sparked controversy as the president begins the closed-door bilateral meeting Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 20:00 1657910716
Saudi state television aired footage of Biden’s meeting with King Salman
Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 19:45 1657909816
Why is Biden changing his mind about making Saudi Arabia a ‘pariah nation’?
Joe Biden couldn’t be more clear. Donald Trump’s administration, he was asked by an interviewer, had failed to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. If nothing else, it had cemented her ties, with Trump bowing before the Saudi king to receive a heavy and dangling gold necklace, the Abdulaziz al Saud collar. If he were president, what would Biden do? Would he punish the Saudi leaders? “Yes. And I said then, Khashoggi was actually murdered and dismembered, and I believe by order of the crown prince [Mohammed bin Salman]”, he said without steel in his voice. “I would make it very clear, we were not going to sell them more weapons. We’re going to make them pay the price and we’re really going to make them the outcasts that they are.” Andrew Buncombe reports for the Independent.
Why Joe Biden Changed His Mind on Making Saudi Arabia a ‘Outcast Nation’
There has been talk of a complete change in US-Saudi relations, so what happened asks Andrew Buncombe Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 19:30 1657908616
Fiancé Khashoggi posts what he thinks he would tweet today
Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, tweeted what she thinks she would have posted after seeing President Joe Biden meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Hey POTOUS, is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS’s next victim is on your hands.” Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 19:10 1657908016
Will Joe Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia affect US gas prices?
As Joe Biden embarked on a multi-issue mission to the Middle East, his first as president, one persistent problem for his administration weighed heavily on the minds of White House staff and the media: oil prices. What are the prospects for any material effects on the pump?
Will Joe Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia affect US gas prices?
The issue weighs heavily on the president as the midterms approach Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 19:00 1657906216
As Biden visits Saudi Arabia, many continue to be targeted by an official crackdown
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reputation as a brash leader who ruthlessly silenced critics and dissent will cast a shadow over his meeting Friday with US President Joe Biden. The royal family has sidelined top princes who could pose a threat and oversee Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. The 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul still looms large — although the prince is credited with pushing through the once-unthinkable changes, allowing women to drive and travel freely, allowing concerts, opening cinemas and removing once feared the religious police.
As Biden visits, a look at those being targeted in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is credited with pushing bold reforms Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 18:30 1657904116
Biden and MBS ignore press questions, report says
A report from Jeddah says that at the start of the meeting both President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman ignored two shouted questions from the press. “Will you apologize to Khashoggi’s family?” “Is Saudi Arabia still a pariah?” Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 17:55 1657902453
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry releases welcome photos
The fist blow from the other corner, as posted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia. Oliver O’Connell 15 July 2022 17:27 1657900096
Biden slams MBS
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met President Joe Biden at the door of the Al Salam Royal Palace, where they will participate in a bilateral meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The two exchanged a brief fist bump before heading inside for the closed-door meeting. New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker notes that the prince was “unsmiling.” Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 16:48 1657899632
Biden is the eighth president to visit the kingdom
Former CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller notes that Joe Biden is the eighth US president to visit Saudi Arabia. Both President GHW Bush and GW Bush visited twice, and Barack Obama visited the kingdom an astonishing four times during his eight years in office. And who could forget this moment from Donald Trump’s 2017 visit? (Saudi Royal Palace/AFP via Getty) Oliver O’Connell15 July 2022 16:40
