Biden to speak with Netanyahu in near future - White House
US President Joe Biden (photo: Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden will discuss the ongoing hostage negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This will happen in the near future, The Times of Israel reports.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the US President plans to have a phone conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister “in the near future.”
“We are very very close (to a Gaza deal - ed.) and yet far because we are not there. It is possible to get it done before January 20, but I can’t be sure” Sullivan said.
The newspaper writes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his top negotiators to Doha on Saturday, in a sign that the talks there are nearing a climax.
However, a senior Arab diplomat familiar with the talks told The Times of Israel that significant obstacles remain.
The other day, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the Biden administration is working closely with the Trump administration to agree on the release of hostages in Gaza.
He noted that this would help the new president and his team to speed up the agreement.
At the same time, yesterday, US President-elect Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, insisted on a ceasefire in Gaza by January 20.
Read more about his statement in RBC-Ukraine's article.
