White House is in the process of rescheduling a visit with the Israel delegation

The White House says an Israeli delegation may visit Washington, D.C., after all.

Press secretary jean-pierre” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener” title=”Karine Jean-Pierre”>Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in talks to arrange a new date for officials from his country to discuss the Gaza situation with the Biden administration.

“We are working with [Israeli leaders] to find a convenient date that’s obviously going to work for both sides,” Jean-Pierre said. “But Netanyahu’s office has agreed to reschedule that meeting that would be dedicated to Rafah, which is a good thing.”

Netanyahu scrapped plans for a previous meeting on Monday after the United States chose to abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution regarding the war in Gaza.

The resolution, which every other country on the Security Council voted in favor of, called for “an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a permanent sustainable ceasefire,” according to a release from the U.N.’s news site. 

Netanyahu’s office said the resolution risks prolonging the war.

“This retreat hurts the war effort as well as the effort to free the hostages because it gives Hamas hope that international pressure will allow them to get a ceasefire without freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu’s office said. “In light of the change in the American stance, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided the delegation will not depart.”

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the resolution “does not represent a shift in our policy” and lamented that the meeting was canceled. Jean-Pierre said she hopes a new date can be announced soon.

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“We are working to convene that meeting,” she said. “It’s an important meeting on Rafah, and when we have a date, certainly, we’ll share that with you.”

President Joe Biden is working to navigate a difficult domestic political situation in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with most voters supporting Israel but the progressive-left wing of the Democratic Party loudly protesting against its actions in Gaza and interrupting the president’s events.