Israel puts finishing touches on preparations for Biden visit
Jerusalem has been decorated with 1,000 American and Israeli flags ahead of US President Joe Biden's arrival tomorrow.
Israeli authorities are holding a final rehearsal at the Ben Gurion airport today in preparation for the visit of US President Joe Biden. The American leader is scheduled to arrive Wednesday afternoon for a three-day visit in Israel and the West Bank before flying to Saudi Arabia. Cabinet ministers have been invited to the welcome ceremony to be held at the airport.
There will reportedly be no handshakes with the president or selfies for several reasons. First off, Biden’s entourage wants to limit his physical contacts due to the coronavirus. The American organizers demanded that anyone who is expected to approach the president within three meters submit a negative coronavirus test 24 hours before the visit. The organizers also want to keep the ceremony short because of the busy schedule and likely wish to avoid the embarrassment that took place during President Donald Trump’s 2017 visit, when junior Knesset member Oren Hazan pushed to the front and took a selfie with the American president.
The ministers will then take a group photo with Biden, and both Biden and Prime Minister Yair Lapid will deliver short statements. Biden will be presented with Israeli aerial defense systems, including the Iron Dome and the still-under-development anti-missile laser defense system.
The next event on the agenda is a trip to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.
