Pool Reports by Aurélia End, Agence France-Presse
| Sent: | Reports: |
| July 15, 2022 09:33 IDT |
Travel pool #1 - Checking in Good morning from Jerusalem. Your pool tested for Covid and got swept. We are now holding at the RON, the King David Hotel. Our first stop today will be the Augusta Victoria Hospital where the president will deliver remarks. Here is the guidance in case useful. As always, feel free to reach out if and when needed. 10:30 AM The PRESIDENT delivers remarks regarding the East Jerusalem Hospital Network 11:30 AM The PRESIDENT arrives at the West Bank and participates in an arrival ceremony 11:45 AM The PRESIDENT meets with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority 12:50 PM The PRESIDENT and President Mahmoud Abbas deliver joint statements 1:20 PM The PRESIDENT arrives at the Church of the Nativity 1:30 PM The PRESIDENT visits the Church of the Nativity 3:25 PM The PRESIDENT departs Tel Aviv, Israel en route Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 5:30 PM The PRESIDENT arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 6:15 PM The PRESIDENT participates in a bilateral meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud 6:45 PM The PRESIDENT and his team participate in a working session with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Ministers |
| July 15, 2022 10:27 IDT |
Travel pool #2 - Rolling The motorcade left King David Hotel at 10:26 AM. Your pooler did not see the president exit the hotel. |
| July 15, 2022 10:40 IDT |
Travel pool #3 - Arrival at hospital The motorcade reached Augusta Victoria Hospital at 10:38 am and came to a stop at 10:39. The roads leading to the hospital were lined with barricades and security forces. Adjacent streets were blocked with buses. |
| July 15, 2022 10:53 IDT |
Travel pool #4 - Potus meeting with hospital staff and medical professionals ?At 10:42 AM the pool was brought into a room with high wooden ceilings and arched windows. We are holding before the president gives remarks. The president is meeting with hospital staff and medical professionals, per the White House. We have a 2 min warning at 10:52 am. |
| July 15, 2022 11:18 IDT |
Travel pool #5 - Remarks Biden entered the room at 10:54 AM. The CEO of the hospital Dr Fadi Atrash gave introductory remarks. "Thank you for your support" he said. The president started speaking at 10:57 AM He mentioned that Dr Jill Biden visited this hospital twice before him. He quoted his favorite Irish poem by Seamus Hainey. Said the East Jerusalem Hospital network is "backbone" of health care for Palestinians. He spoke about "our commitment to support health and dignity" of Palestinians. He announced that the US is committing an additional 100 million dollars to the East Jérusalem Hospital network. Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve "freedom, security" and "dignity" he said Remarks concluded at 11:11 AM A woman in the audience, who identified herself as a nurse in pediatric care, then told Biden "thank you for your support but we need more justice, we need more dignity" The president listened and said "Thank you" More tk As always please check against transcript. |
| July 15, 2022 11:26 IDT |
Travel pool #6 - Motorcade rolling and link for hospital remarks We are rolling at 11:20 AM. Here is a link to the remarks at the hospital. Onpassing this from the WH Upon arrival at the Augusta Victoria Hospital, the President will be greeted by: The President delivered remarks at the Augusta Victoria Hospital announcing funding to improve healthcare access for the Palestinian people Speaking program: The President also greeted and took a photo with Augusta Victoria Hospital Administrative staff. |
| July 15, 2022 11:49 IDT |
Travel pool #7 - Bethlehem The motorcade reached the Muqata'a presidential compound in Bethlehem at 11:45 AM. On the your pooler spotted a portrait of Shireen Abu Akleh on a wall. We also drove under a sign reading "Justice for Shireen" and saw banners with the same inscription. Your pooler spotted posters with "Mr President this is apartheid" on both sides of the road. We are now waiting for the arrival ceremony to take place. |
| July 15, 2022 12:03 IDT |
Travel pool #8 - Ceremony and spray The arrival ceremony started at 11:48 AM in a courtyard lined with Palestinian and American flags. The president came in at 11:49 AM with the president of the Palestinian authority Mahmoud Abbas. Biden was wearing his signature sunglasses. They stood side by side while the honor guard played the national anthem and then the Palestinian anthem. The two leaders exited the court yard at 11:53. At 11:56 am the pool was brought into a small room where Biden and Abbas were standing in front of two chairs. The two leaders shook hands. Soon after the pool was ushered out and we are now waiting for their joining statement. These will stream on the White House website. |
| July 15, 2022 12:27 IDT |
Travel pool #9 - Waiting for statements, color We are holding in a large room of the presidential compound . There are several rows of chairs facing two lecterns and six flags - three American flags and three Palestinian flags. On an empty chair facing the podium is a picture of Shireen Abu Akleh wearing a bullet proof vest, with the words "The voice of Palestine" written on it in Arabic. Your pooler also saw five Palestinian journalists wearing black "Justice for Shireen" T-shirts. A reminder that the joint statements will stream here: whitehouse.gov/live |
| July 15, 2022 12:37 IDT |
Travel pool #10 - Details on arrival in Bethlehem, bilateral meeting Sharing this, from the WH Upon arrival at the Muqata’a Presidential Compound in Bethlehem, West Bank, the President was greeted by: The President participated in an expanded bilateral meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. Meeting participants include: U.S. Manifest Palestinian Authority Manifest |
| July 15, 2022 12:42 IDT |
Travel pool #11 - Negative Covid test Per the White House: The President tested negative for COVID-19 yesterday. |
| July 15, 2022 13:47 IDT |
Travel pool #12 - Joint statements Biden and Abbas entered the room at 1:23 PM President Abbas spoke first. POTUS started speaking at 1:31 PM and concluded at 1:40 PM. The two leaders then shook hands and chatted briefly on the podium but your pooler could not hear what they were saying. They exited at 1:41 pm. The motorcade started rolling at 1:46pm, next stop is the Church of the Nativity. Your pooler is not sharing quotes since the event was streaming on the WH website. A clarification: the empty chair with the picture of Shireen Abu Akleh was in the first row of the section of the room where Palestinian journalists were seated, behind three rows of chairs for Palestinian officials. |
| July 15, 2022 14:06 IDT |
Travel pool #13 - Church of the Nativity ?The motorcade reached the Church of the Nativity at 1:55 pm. At 1:57 pm the president exited the Beast. He chatted briefly with the greeters, among them two women wearing traditional dresses. At 2:00 PM he entered the church. We are now holding in a cafe nearby. |
| July 15, 2022 14:22 IDT |
Travel pool #14 - Greeters Passing along from the White House Upon arrival at the Church of the Nativity, the President was greeted by: |
| July 15, 2022 14:24 IDT |
Travel pool #15 - Details about church visit The WH shares this The President is visiting the Church of the Nativity to underscore support for Christians who face challenges across the region. He is meeting with Church Patriarchs and will receive an overview of the mosaics and architecture of the church. |
| July 15, 2022 14:53 IDT |
Travel pool #16 - Leaving church ?The motorcade left the Church of the Nativity at 2:50 PM. Your pooler did not see the president exit the church but spotted POTUS as the Beast drove by. He was wearing his aviators. |
| July 15, 2022 | [APP Note: Report #17 does not exist or was not received by the APP.] |
| July 15, 2022 15:36 IDT |
Travel pool #18 - Ben Gurion Airport / Travelers The pool’s helicopter landed at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, at 3:27 PM, where Air Force One is expected to take off soon for an historic flight to Jeddah. From a distance your pooler did see an honor guard waiting for the president. Sharing this from the WH Traveling with the President on Marine One en route Ben Gurion Airport: |
| July 15, 2022 15:53 IDT |
Travel pool #19 - Departure POTUS exited Marine One at 3:46 PM. Wearing his sunglasses, he then walked over to Air Force One. Israeli PM Lapid and Israeli president Herzog, among other officials, were waiting for him next to the stairs. Biden shook hands with each of them and chatted for a few minutes with the officials. Ambassador Niles was also there. At 3:50 POTUS waved from the top of the stairs and boarded. We will be wheels up shortly. Your pooler hears gaggle with Press Sec Karine Jean Pierre and NSA Jake Sullivan will take place approx one hour into the flight. |
| July 15, 2022 16:02 IDT |
Travel pool #20 - wheels up Air Force One took off at 4:01 pm It will be a 2 hours 5 minutes flight to Saudi Arabia Per the WH Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, the President will be greeted by: |
| July 15, 2022 17:55 AST |
Travel pool # 21 - Jeddah ?Air Force One landed at 5:53 pm local time at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| July 15, 2022 18:17 AST |
Travel pool #22 - Arrival Potus deplaned at 6:11 PM. He was greeted by Saudi officials. There was a fist bump with one of the greeters and then Biden shook hands with other officials. Your pooler will share their names as soon as she gets them. Biden walked down a light purple carpet lined with an honor guard, holding up swords. He entered the Beast at 6:12 PM. We are now rolling |
| July 15, 2022 18:56 AST |
Travel pool #22a - Greeters at airport Per the WH Upon arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, the President was greeted by: |
| July 15, 2022 18:39 AST |
Travel pool #23 - Palace The motorcade reached Al Salam Royal Palace, where the president will participate in a bilateral meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, at 6:33 PM. The streets were empty and lined with police cars and security forces. We came to a stop at 6:34 PM. Your pooler did not see POTUS exit his car. |
| July 15, 2022 18:48 AST |
Travel pool #24 - MBS Biden fist bump According to images shown by the Saudi state TV the Crown Prince and POTUS exchanged a fist bump upon arrival. The pool arrived after this interaction took place. https://twitter.com/alekhbariyatv/status/1547968621640499202?s=21&t=0LxTk-_DKiM0SI3_9LL6eA |
| July 15, 2022 19:05 AST |
Travel pool #25 - Holding Pool is currently holding in a room of the palace. Reception is sometimes poor so apologies for the delays you might experience getting the pool reports. |
| July 15, 2022 20:10 AST |
Travel pool #26 - POTUS meeting with MBS Sending for pooler Aurelia End who is having technical issues. Apologies for delay. Cell service is terrible. Pool was led into a large room where the POTUS and MBS meeting was taking place. The two men walked in together at 7:34 pm. They sat facing one another across from a large rectangular table. Each man had aides along his side. American and Saudi flags lined the back wall. MBS spoke first welcoming POTUS to Saudi Arabia. Biden spoke second. Neither man could be heard. Boom mics were not allowed in the room. Neither man shouted to responded questions which were Jamal Khashoggi - will you apologize to his family and do you still consider Saudi Arabia a pariah? MBS smirked/smiled when Peter Alexander shouted his question on Jamal Khashoggi. Pool was in room less than 2 minutes. Pool is endeavoring to get audio and will share if we succeed. Note: Pool was not allowed into Biden’s first meeting with Saudi king. State TV showed footage: https://twitter.com/alekhbariyatv/status/1547983593682509826?s=21&t=8ORqjcKZLY5K3WL_ICkikQ |
| July 15, 2022 20:15 AST |
Pool report #27 - Onpassing Your pooler is back online. Apologies once again about these technical issues. Sharing this from the WH about arrival at the palace earlier Upon arrival at the Al Salam Royal Palace, the President will be greeted by the Royal Family. |
| July 15, 2022 20:37 AST |
Travel pool #28 - First bilateral meeting/holding Pool is holding in vans outside the palace. Sharing this from the WH. This is the first meeting the president had after arriving at the palace, it’s not happening now. The President is participating in a bilateral meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Meeting Participants include: U.S. Manifest Saudi Arabia Manifest |
| July 15, 2022 21:32 AST |
Travel pool #29 - Departing palace The motorcade left the palace at 9:29 PM and we are now rolling. |
| July 15, 2022 | [APP Note: See reporter's comment in Report #33.] |
| July 15, 2022 | [APP Note: Report #31 does not exist or was not received by the APP.] |
| July 15, 2022 22:00 AST |
Travel pool #32 - remarks From the WH just now The President will deliver remarks at 10:30PM in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This will be covered by the travel pool. |
| July 15, 2022 22:05 AST |
Travel pool report #33- Arrival at RON // Correcting pool report number The motorcade reached the RON at 10 pm A correction: I skipped pool report #30. |
| July 15, 2022 22:32 AST |
Pool report #34 - Timing for meetings with Saudi officials The White House shares this Timing from meetings earlier today: 7:02 PM delegation meeting begins |
| July 15, 2022 22:40 AST |
Travel pool report #35 - Waiting for remarks At 10:37 PM pool is waiting for the president in a room with a lectern and 2 flags. |
| July 15, 2022 22:44 AST |
Travel pool #36 - 2 min We have a 2 min warning at 10:43 Jake Sullivan and Antony Blinken are in the room. |
| July 15, 2022 22:46 AST |
Travel pool #37 - Remarks begin The president entered the room and started speaking at 10:45 PM. As a reminder this should be streaming on the WH website. |
| July 15, 2022 23:01 AST |
Travel pool #38 - Remarks conclude, questions, Lid POTUS concluded his remarks and then took questions on the Crown Prince's reaction at his mention of Jamal Khashoggi, on the reaction of Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee, on gas prices, on Saudi Arabia as a "pariah", on the fist bump and on Manchin. He exited at 10:55 PM On his way out he was asked whether Manchin was negotiating in good faith and he said he did not know and he did not negotiate with Joe Manchin. Please check against transcript. The WH called a lid after the president left the room at 10:55 PM. It was a pleasure serving as your pooler on this eventful day. Massive thanks to copooler Emily Goodin from the Daly Mail for her help today. |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of July 15, 2022 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/357078