President Biden unexpectedly crossed himself Wednesday during a one-on-one meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in Midtown.
The 80-year-old Roman Catholic president made the striking hand gesture (touching his forehead, stomach, and left and right chest area with his right hand) as the Jewish leader began to speak.
“I checked, we have been friends for more than 40 years,” Netanyahu said, prompting Biden to make the sign of the cross in a possible joke about his own age.
However, the president did not explain his action and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The sign of the cross dates back to early Christianity and is often used as a self-blessing during prayer.
Biden has had frosty relations with Netanyahu, a conservative politician who worked closely with former President Donald Trump, and Biden has persistently criticized his counterpart’s proposals to limit the Israeli judicial system’s ability to review government actions.
President Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in Manhattan on September 20, 2023. Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Biden unexpectedly made the sign of the cross during the meeting.Reuters
Biden and Netanyahu said Wednesday that they hoped to mediate the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, building on the Trump administration’s Abraham Accords with other Arab countries.
During Trump’s final year in office, the Muslim-majority governments of Bahrain, Kosovo, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel as a result of American diplomacy.
“If you and I were talking 10 years ago about normalization with Saudi Arabia, I think we would look at each other like, ‘Who’s been drinking what?’” said Biden, whose administration led the opening of Saudi airspace to Israeli flights. . .
People protesting against Netanyahu outside the meeting with Biden. AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Netanyahu commented that he and Biden have been friends for more than 40 years. AP Photo/Susan Walsh
“Good Irish whiskey,” Netanyahu joked in response, later adding: “I believe that under your leadership, Mr. President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia.”
The Saudi government has done business with Trump, who is seeking a rematch against Biden, and his family since the former president left office, including investing $2 billion in former first son-in-law Jared Kushner’s firm.
LIV Golf, funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, has also held at least four events at Trump-owned golf courses in Bedminster, New Jersey, and outside Washington, DC.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn