Latest Biden news: The president pressures the Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi’s murder and laughs at the criticism directed at him

It was reported on Thursday that the President Joe Biden It helped solidify an agreement between Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt would resolve a long-running dispute over a pair of carrots In the The Red Sea And allowing Israeli planes to pass through Saudi airspace for the first time in history.

according to Axios The agreement would allow the Saudis to gain full control of the islands of Tiran and Sanafir, which had been a demilitarized zone since Egypt and Israel signed the 1979 peace treaty negotiated with the help of then-President Jimmy Carter.

Mr. Biden later issued the following statement before he heads to Saudi Arabia on Friday:

Saudi Arabia’s historic decision to open its airspace to all civil aircraft, including those flying to and from Israel, is an important step toward building a more integrated and stable Middle East region. While this opening has been debated for a long time, now, thanks to months of steady diplomacy between my administration and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it has finally become a reality. Today, I will be the first president of the United States to fly from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As we celebrate this important moment, Saudi Arabia’s decision can help build momentum towards Israel’s further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia. I will do everything I can, through direct diplomacy and engagement between leaders, to continue to advance this ground-breaking process.

president Joe Biden On Thursday, he gave wholehearted support to the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements forged between them Israel And many kingdoms in the Middle East mediated during trump Administration. Mr. Biden added that he would expand efforts under his predecessor to deepen relations between Israel and its neighbors.

“We will also continue to build on the Abraham Accords, which I strongly support as they deepen, deepen Israel’s integration into the broader region and establish lasting relationships for business, cooperation and tourism,” Biden said during a press conference alongside the Israeli prime minister. Minister Yair Lapid.

President Joe Biden On Thursday, he warned that the negotiations aimed to achieve Iran Going back to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear deal cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.

Speaking at a press conference together Israeli Prime Minister Yair LapidMr Biden was asked if he had set a deadline for when he would withdraw from the talks, which the US hopes to restart the agreement that former President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

Hatice GenghisThe fiancée of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal KhashoggiHe described Joe Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia as “heartbreaking”, accusing the US president of reneging on his pledge to prioritize human rights.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Istanbul A day before Biden travels to Saudi Arabia on Friday to meet with the crown prince, Cengiz said Biden should pressure Saudi Arabia – a country she has described as a “terrible ally” – to embrace a human rights agenda. It also wants Biden to seek more answers from Saudi authorities about what happened to Khashoggi’s remains.

President Joe Biden said he would take executive action on climate change if the Democrats’ proposed spending bill did not include clean energy provisions, but he did not mention Senator Joe Manchin, who has been vocal about his opposition to a larger bill including climate provisions. and increase taxes.

The President is currently traveling to the Middle East while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is negotiating with Mr. Manchin.

All times Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

11:00 The President of the Republic participates in a bilateral meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi

11.40 am – The President of the Republic participates in a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi

12.15 pm The President of the State participates in a bilateral meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

12.45 pm The President will attend a welcome reception for the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries +3

12.55 PM The President shares a family photo with the leaders of the GCC +3

1.15 pm The President of the Republic attends the GCC Summit +3

3 p.m. The President participates in a working lunch

4.45 p.m. The President leaves Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at Mildenhall Road, UK, to refuel before heading to Washington, D.C., with an expected arrival time of 12.40 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Joe Biden hints that an important announcement may come from the Saudis regarding oil supplies in the coming weeks.

The president said Friday that he had a “good discussion” with the Saudis, who “share that urgency” to address the oil supply and gas price issues that have challenged the United States and beyond.

“Based on our discussion today, I expect we will see more steps in the coming weeks,” he said during his remarks from Jeddah.

John Bowden A preview of what that might look like.

Peter Alexander, NBC News’ chief White House correspondent, was the reporter who asked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman whether he would apologize to the family of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

According to Mister Alexander and other reporters in the room, the crown prince kept his eyes down and a smirk appeared on his face.

The White House Press Caucus was granted access to an extended portion of the meeting between President Joe Biden, Mohammed bin Salman, and their advisors.

The microphones on the meeting table were not turned on and the press was kept at a distance making it difficult to hear what the two men were saying.

Statement from Ms. Hanan El-Eter Khashoggi regarding President Biden’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: