Joe Biden’s trip to Jerusalem met with ambivalence and optimism

US President embarking on four-day visit to Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia

US President Joe Biden waves from a plane at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP

US President Joe Biden boards a plane at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. AFP

Mr Biden walks to the plane. AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed in discussion with Mr Biden during the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court

US President Joe Biden attends the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit at a hotel in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coastal city. AFP

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC+3 meeting in Jeddah. AFP

US President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed attended a traditional summit 'family photo call' in the company of, from left: Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Co-operation Affairs and the Special Representative of the Sultan; Sheikh Mohamed; Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi; Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa; US President Joe Biden; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Jordan's King Abdullah II; Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi. AFP

President Sheikh Mohamed is received by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed is received by Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohamed bin Salman upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed greets Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, during the GCC+3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Rashed Al Mansoori / Presidential Court

US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials during a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah before the GCC+3 meeting. AFP

US President Joe Biden meets Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, in Jeddah before the beginning of the GCC+3 meeting. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, before the GCC + 3 Jeddah Security and Development Summit on Saturday. SPA

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrive for the Jeddah summit. SPA

US President Joe Biden participates in a working session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. AP

US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a bilateral meeting with Saudi officials led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al Salam Palace. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman takes part in a working session with US President Joe Biden and his team. AFP

Saudi Arabia's King Salman greets US President Joe Biden at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

King Salman and US President Joe Biden in discussions at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

US President Joe Biden meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

US President Joe Biden arrives at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Photo: @spagov

US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Saudi Arabian officials. AFP

Mr Biden disembarks from Air Force One at King Abdulaziz International Airport, following a flight from Tel Aviv. AFP

US Presidents Joe Biden salutes as he boards Air Force One at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, near Tel Aviv en route to a meeting with the GCC+3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Israel's President Isaac Herzog, second right, and caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, centre, bid farewell to US President Joe Biden at Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

US President Joe Biden meets clergy at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

US President Joe Biden is introduced to local people at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters

US President Joe Biden arrives at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, on the second full day of his Middle East visit. AFP

US President Joe Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas address the media after their meeting at the Muqataa Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, the occupied West Bank. AFP

A photo of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is placed on a chair as reporters wait for US President Joe Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to speak. She was killed in a raid by Israeli forces in May. The caption reads: 'Shireen Abu Akleh, voice of Palestine'. AP

US President Joe Biden with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a welcome ceremony at the Palestinian Muqataa Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomes US President Joe Biden to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

A Palestinian security officer stands guard near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank before US President Joe Biden’s official visit. AFP

Palestinian and Israeli human rights campaigners lift banners during a rally near Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem as US President Joe Binden visits. AFP

US President Joe Biden greets fans as he attends the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden poses for a picture with US athletes competing in the Maccabiah Games. AFP

People use the lights of their phones during the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, attended by US President Joe Biden. Reuters

US athletes attend the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. AFP

The Maccabiah Games coincided with the US President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. AFP

US President Joe Biden, centre, Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, and President Isaac Herzog attend the opening ceremony for the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. Reuters

A Palestinian protester carries a placard during a demonstration in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah as US President Joe Biden visited Israel. AFP

In Gaza City, Palestinian demonstrators wave their national flag as they gather to protest against the visit by US President Joe Biden to Israel. AFP

A billboard, part of a campaign organised by the Centre for Human Rights B'Tselem, installed before US President Joe Biden's arrival for an official visit in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. PA

US President Joe Biden receives the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour from Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. AP Photo

US President Joe Biden, centre left, and President Isaac Herzog with children after Mr Biden's arrival at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden signs the guest book in the presence of President Isaac Herzog on arriving at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden with President Isaac Herzog and Mrs Michal Herzog in Jerusalem. AFP

US and Saudi Arabian flags in a square in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before US President Joe Biden's visit. AP

US President Joe Biden and caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid at a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem. EPA

President Sheikh Mohamed delivers the opening speech during the I2U2 summit, a meeting between the leaders of the UAE, India, Israel and the US. Seen with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Photo: Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid during the I2U2 summit. Photo: Presidential Court

US President Joe Biden and caretaker Iraeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid address a joint press conference. AFP

US President Joe Biden and Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid during their meeting at a hotel in Jerusalem. AFP

US President Joe Biden speaks to Holocaust survivors Dr Gita Cycowicz and Rena Quint in the Hall of Remembrance, at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. AP

US President Joe Biden participates in a wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. AP

Israel's President Isaac Herzog speaks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US President Joe Biden during their visit to Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. Reuters

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, left, US President Joe Biden, second left, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, right, and Brig Gen Shawn Harris, defence attache to the US embassy, in front of Israel's Iron Dome defence system during a tour at Ben Gurion Airport. AP

US President Joe Biden waves as he leaves Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on his way to Jerusalem. EPA

US President Joe Biden, centre, stands for the national anthems alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, Israel's President Herzog, third left, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, third right, and departing prime minister Naftali Bennett, second right, at Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

Caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog welcome US President Joe Biden to Israel as his trip begins. Reuters

Latest updates on President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East here

Israeli and American flags lined the streets of Jerusalem on Wednesday before US President Joe Biden’s arrival in the region.

The president has said the trip to Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia is to “advance important American interests”.

Writing in The Washington Post on Saturday, he said he hoped to “deepen and expand” relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

On the streets of Jerusalem on Wednesday, his imminent arrival was met with a mix of ambivalence and hope.

At Mahane Yehuda Market, a warren of narrow streets and vibrant food stands nestled on a hilltop, shoppers busily prepared for the day.

“I'm not sure that something radical is going to happen,” said Arie Stavisky. “It's a good thing that he's here.”

The Jerusalem resident, who works in sales, said he hoped the US president would follow through on his pledge to help strengthen ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

“[Saudi Arabia] needs us because they know we can help and they need us because we are against the Iranians,” Mr Stavisky told The National. “It's not a matter of falling in love or getting married. OK, it's a matter of interest. That's it, and I think it's going to work.”

Louis Weinrauch shared the hope for stronger ties with Saudi Arabia. “It's very important to join another country, a big country, a strong country,” he said.

But while there is cautious optimism that Mr Biden will help to forge stronger ties between the two countries, there is a feeling that dysfunction within Israeli politics will make any significant progress or achievement difficult.

Israel has had four elections in the past four years and is heading for a fifth in November.

The lack of continuity — and that current Prime Minister Yair Lapid took office only a week ago to serve as a caretaker — mean plans for the future may be put on hold.

“You don't know who's going to be the next one,” said Mr Stavisky. “And by us, things are very flexible. You know, what [happens] in Israel in a day is like a month in America. So we don't know what's going on.”

In addition to meeting Israeli leaders, Mr Biden will meet the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.

He has worked to improve relations with the Palestinian Authority after Donald Trump's four years as president.

But while some in Jerusalem welcome the move, there is little hope that relations between Israel and the Palestinians will improve any time soon or that new peace talks are on the horizon.

“I think we need to solve relations between Israelis and Palestinians and none of us are ready for it,” said Gal Herschenboim, a graphic designer. "Maybe it'll be the next generation or two generations. I think it's not going to happen in our time, which is sad.”