Biden’s high-stakes Israel visit has potential to define his presidency

Visit 11 days after Hamas attack puts US president centre-stage in global affairs at key moment

Joe Biden arrives in Israel on Wednesday on a high-stakes visit overshadowed by catastrophe even before Air Force One touched down at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.

Eleven days after the Hamas attack that killed at least 1,400 Israelis, the US president faced the already tricky task of providing solace to a grief-stricken nation while attempting to persuade its leaders to prevent humanitarian crisis and even regional conflict.