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| Photo Credit: AP. |
U.S. President Joe Biden greeted Saudi crown Mohammed bin Salman with a fist-bump as he began his trip to the country. Salman is facing allegations that he ordered the execution of American based Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi.
Inside the
al Salam Royal Palace, Biden quickly flouted his no-hand-shake rule reaching
out to grip the hand of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saudi in the
presence of the crown prince.
The White
House said doctor’s orders were to blame for the policy instructing Biden not
to shake hands with Middle East leaders this week, Washington Examiner reports.
Biden undermined the policy immediately while greeting Israeli leaders in Tel
Aviv and Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Biden who
initially fist-bumped several Israeli officials on the red carpet was spotted
shaking hands with opposition leader and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and later shook hands with Israeli officials during a defense
ministry briefing on Iron Dome and Iron Beam technology, according to
Washington Examiner
Biden who
arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday travelled to the Royal Palace to meet with
Saudi King Salman and his son, the country’s de facto leader and crown prince.
His visit to the country has been criticized over human right concerns in Saudi
Arabia.