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Biden to meet with Netanyahu during "Israel" trip

According to Israeli media, US President Joe Biden plans to meet with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to "Israel".

The meeting was not originally planned, but it has been added to Biden's itinerary in response to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's decision to dissolve the Knesset, forcing "Israel" to hold early elections.

The Knesset voted unanimously to dissolve in a preliminary reading of a law anticipated to be approved this week, after which Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will lead an interim government in place of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the US wants to avoid the image that it is meddling with elections

Lapid will meet Biden at Ben Gurion Airport on July 13 and will have additional meetings with him throughout the trip, according to a US official. Bennett will also meet with Biden, with whom he has developed a "friendship" over the past year.

Lapid and Biden are said to have met only once previously, in 2013, when Lapid was finance minister and Biden was vice president.

Biden and Netanyahu have a long history together, although with occasional political disagreements. Netanyahu clashed with former US President Barack Obama, who appointed Biden as Vice President.

Biden is expected to visit "Israel" on July 14-15 and Saudi Arabia on July 15-16. His visit to the latter will include a meeting with the Kingdom's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

After announcing his visit, Biden stated that his visit is primarily to address "Israel's security issues."