US Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Tel Aviv to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a new military aid package.
Biden’s office last week announced the two-day trip, saying that he is also slated to meet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Biden’s visit comes as the relationship between US President Barack Obama and Netanyahu took a new setback over the Israeli premier’s decision not to accept an invitation for talks in Washington later this month.
Netanyahu cancelled the meeting with Obama, US National Security Counci spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Monday.
The White House had actually sent an invitation to Netanyahu two weeks ago for the meeting scheduled for March 18.
In January, Netanyahu told Washington that Tel Aviv needs more US military aid following the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.
He stated that Washington and Tel Aviv…