Biden Meets Israel’s Herzog as Trump, Ye Fuel Antisemitism Fears

(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden will welcome Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the White House, at a time when outbursts by former President Donald Trump and rapper Ye have fueled concerns about growing antisemitism.

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The meeting Wednesday is expected to focus on regional security concerns, including Iran’s involvement in the war in Ukraine. But Herzog has spoken about antisemitic incidents with US Jewish leaders, raising the prospect that Biden may make a rare diversion into domestic politics when the two men speak to reporters.

Trump, in a social media post earlier this month, accused American Jews of being ungrateful to him despite his supportive actions toward Israel. The criticism played on an antisemitic trope that American Jews have split loyalties between the US and Israel, and drew a sharp rebuke from the White House.

“Donald Trump’s comments were antisemitic, as you all know, and insulting both to Jews and to our Israeli allies,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said last week.

“With respect to Israel, our relationship is ironclad and it’s rooted in shared values and interests,” she continued. “Donald Trump clearly doesn’t understand that either.”

Earlier: White House Rips Trump Criticism of US Jews as Antisemitic

Jean-Pierre also offered criticism of Ye -- formerly known as Kanye West -- after he made a string of antisemitic comments culminating in a tweet in which he vowed to “go death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE.” Twitter Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc.’s Instagram locked Ye out of his accounts following the tweet, which misspelled the US defense readiness status.

Corporate partners like Adidas AG, Gap Inc. and Kering SA’s Balenciaga fashion labels cut ties with him.

Nonetheless, Ye’s comments generated more antisemitic displays. Demonstrators last weekend in Los Angeles gave Nazi salutes as they stood behind a banner hanging over a freeway overpass that commended Ye.

“We are going to continue to condemn that type of language, because at the end of the day, it is disgusting and there is absolutely no room, no place in our political discourse to be having that type of, really, vile conversation,” Jean-Pierre said.

Read more: Adidas Cuts Ties With Ye, Absorbing €250 Million Profit Hit

Biden has previously said he was motivated to run for president because of the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and said leaders have a responsibility to address hate.

Iran Concerns

It’s unclear how Biden will handle the visit from Herzog, who is head of state but not government, and traveling to the US for the first time as Israel’s president. By tradition, US presidents often look to steer clear of domestic politics in meetings with foreign dignitaries -- though it’s a standard that has been violated with some frequency.

Aside from the worries about antisemitism, Biden and Herzog also have substantial foreign policy to discuss. Both the Biden administration and the Israeli government have expressed growing worries about Iranian assistance for Russia in the war in Ukraine. The White House last week accused Tehran of sending trainers and technicians to Crimea to support Russian attacks using Iranian-made drones.

Israeli officials have also warned the US and its European allies against reviving the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran. Top Biden administration officials have said an agreement is unlikely in the near future.

Herzog’s visit comes days ahead of Nov. 1 elections in Israel, in which former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is mounting a comeback campaign that could result in a government forming that includes far-right parties. Herzog, as president, would play a role in brokering a coalition government if there is no clear election winner.

Biden is facing off-year elections in less than two weeks and the prospect of Democrats losing control of one or both chambers of Congress to Republicans.

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