No Word from White House on Whether Biden to Meet Netanyahu in Washington

 Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including one holding an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rally near the White House in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2024 to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. (AFP)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including one holding an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rally near the White House in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2024 to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. (AFP)
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No Word from White House on Whether Biden to Meet Netanyahu in Washington

 Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including one holding an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rally near the White House in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2024 to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. (AFP)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including one holding an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rally near the White House in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2024 to protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. (AFP)

The White House declined to say on Sunday whether President Joe Biden will meet Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli prime minister visits Washington next month to address the US Congress.

"I don't have anything to announce today," Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," adding the two men were in regular communication.

"He's coming to address the Congress. The president talks to him all the time," Sullivan said.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on July 24. Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza, but there have been tensions between the two men over how Israel is conducting the war.

Biden, who is running for re-election in November, has faced criticism over his support for Israel from his left-leaning political base as the Palestinian death toll mounts from Israel's assault.

Sullivan said he hoped a ceasefire and hostage deal would be in place that by the time Netanyahu came to Washington. Hamas must simply say "yes" to the proposal on the table, he said.

Biden, who returns to the United States from France later on Sunday, has welcomed the rescue by Israeli forces of four hostages held by Hamas and vowed to keep working until all hostages were released and a ceasefire achieved.



Iran’s Top Leader Pardons Prisoners, Including Foreigners

A number of countries, including Iran, have released prisoners because of the coronavirus. AFP
A number of countries, including Iran, have released prisoners because of the coronavirus. AFP
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Iran’s Top Leader Pardons Prisoners, Including Foreigners

A number of countries, including Iran, have released prisoners because of the coronavirus. AFP
A number of countries, including Iran, have released prisoners because of the coronavirus. AFP

Iran’s top leader has pardoned thousands of prisoners including foreigners and people accused of anti-state crimes, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Friday, according to The AP.

IRNA reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei agreed to pardon and commute the sentences of 2,887 prisoners following a proposal from judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeh.

The death sentences of 59 people were commuted to imprisonment, it said.

Those pardoned included 39 people who were convicted of anti-state crimes and 40 foreign nationals, it said.

The report did not elaborate further.

Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, pardons prisoners to mark certain occasions, including the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, which is Saturday.