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Transcript/ScriptUS Mideast – VOSR Long version
HEADLINE: Biden in Middle East to Bolster Israel’s Security
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 7/14/2022 at 2:04p
BYLINE: Patsy Widakuswara
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Jerusalem
VIDEOGRAPHER: Kevin Nha
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Newhouse,
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:08
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrat
TYPE: VOSR
((INTRO: ))
[[President Joe Biden is in the Middle East this week, his first visit there since taking office, to show allies and partners that Washington is not deprioritizing the region despite its focus on the war in Ukraine and strategic competition with China. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara is traveling with the president and has this report from Jerusalem.]]
((NARRATOR))
On the first leg of his Middle East trip, President Joe Biden is meeting with Israeli leaders on Thursday and Palestinian leaders on Friday, where he will again lend his support for the two-state solution. But really the bigger goal of this trip is to bolster Israeli security against the threat of Iran, especially by encouraging deeper integration between Israel and its Arab neighbors through economic and military ties.
Now, this will be the same message that the president will bring as he heads to Jeddah on Saturday to meet with Gulf leaders and also the Saudi King – that a stronger bond between Israel and its Arab neighbors is good for everyone, including the United States, especially in light of Iran's destabilizing activities in the region, and also the stalled peace process on the Iran nuclear weapons program.
Now, of course, the Palestinians feel completely sidelined by this whole process. With more integration between Israel and its Arab neighbors, there's less leverage for Palestinians in their fight for statehood and independence.
The Biden administration is not offering a roadmap to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but they are trying to renew ties with the Palestinians, which were pretty much ruptured under the Trump administration.
Now beyond regional security issues, the Biden administration is also trying to rally leaders on energy prices, on food insecurity, issues that are consequences from Russia's invasion on Ukraine.
It's not an easy trip for Biden. In Israel, he's meeting with a caretaker government following the collapse of Naftali Bennett's coalition in June. But the more complicated trip will be in Saudi Arabia, where American interests of energy security and regional power dynamics give Biden no choice but to engage with the kingdom that he once condemned for its human rights records, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I'm Patsy Widakuswara. White House bureau chief, traveling with the president in Jerusalem
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Jerusalem
Embargo DateJuly 14, 2022 18:41 EDT
BylineI'm Patsy Widakuswara. White House bureau chief, traveling with the president in Jerusalem
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
