US: Wednesday marks the beginning of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s high-stakes journey to the Middle East, which will focus on efforts to persuade Gulf allies to increase oil production and bring Israeli and Saudi Arabia closer together.
Before visiting Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, on Friday in the occupied West Bank, Biden will end up spending days in Jerusalem for discussions with Israeli authorities.
He will then fly directly from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday for discussions with Saudi officials and to attend a conference of Gulf allies, a first for an American president.
Biden’s first trip to the Mid East as president, according to U.S. officials, could result in additional steps toward rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, longtime adversaries, but also two of America’s most steadfast allies in the unrestAccording to an Israeli official, “We’re taking measures gradually in that direction.”
Many of the dynamics that are developing over the last few months are encapsulated by the fact because President Biden visits Israel
