From supporting Israel's military activity against the Iranian arsenal in Syria, through the hunt for controlled progress in the path of sovereignty, to the red line around contacts with China • The issues and positions that accompanied the US Secretary of State's visit to Israel • Commentary

At first glance, Pompeo's decision to make his first overseas visit since the outbreak of the Corona crisis in Israel and precisely on the eve of the new government's inauguration is quite puzzling. Does the American-Israeli agenda contain a whole range of such urgent issues that its treatment requires the arrival of a visit to Bezeq, even before the last threads of the new coalition barracks were intertwined?

Photo: GPO

The answer to this wonder is in three contexts, which Pompeo himself illuminated at least the tip of their glacier before and during the visit. Visually, the Secretary of State seems to have carried a triangular-like traffic light in Jerusalem, whose colors change according to the subject of the debate. The first, painted green, means full backing and encouragement for Israeli military activity against Iranian weapons systems and bases in Syria. This is to exploit Tehran's deep weakness and accelerate its disengagement from Syria's soil.

The second message, painted in yellow, is related to the timing of Netanyahu's decision to launch the legislative initiative affecting Israeli sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and the Northern Dead Sea. In this complex, Pompeo emphasized that Israel is indeed entitled to exercise independent judgment on this issue, so the message does not include an explicit American claim to reject the move.

However, this is a yellow light, as the administration would have preferred that the action be coordinated with Washington in full force, and would only come into effect after the joint staff headquarters work was completed to accurately map territories to be included in the new sovereign space. This stance, which supports controlled and prudent progress in the path of applying sovereignty, reflects the widespread concern among government officials, especially among the intelligence community, about the regional implications of applying sovereignty within two months, and their desire to nurse the remaining ends of the plan.

More on:

• "Israel has the right and obligation to decide on sovereignty in Judea and Samaria"

• Pompeo agrees with Netanyahu: "Even during the Corona Ayatollah in Iran continued to spread evil"

• Pompeo: "Extend arms embargo on Iran, clock ticking"

For the White House, another major advantage lies in copying the date of Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley from early summer to the end of 2020. Implementation by Israel of declared presidential support on the eve of the US November 3 ballot may be optimal for Trump, as a stimulus for The Evangelical Target Audience, the vast majority of them unreservedly supports this pillar of the century plan, as well as some of the Jewish voice.

In light of the difficult struggle currently faced by Democratic rival Joe Biden, it is desirable for him to leave this incentive on the shelf at this stage, thus preventing a situation in which the effect of the declaration of sovereignty will fade and sink to the stage on the day of his real test.

Finally - the red light. Although Israel's relationship with the administration is tight and distant, light years from the severe crisis that blighted former Prime Minister Barak's relationship with President Clinton at the end of his second term, forcing him to cancel the Falcon deal with China at the time, Pompeo drew a bright red line in the Chinese space. New geo-strategic circumstances have been created, requiring the utmost care not to cross red lines when it comes to moving future infrastructures and valuable strategic and technological assets under Chinese giant control.

The international system is in the dawn of a new cold war between Washington and Beijing. The Israeli announcement yesterday that it intends to reconsider China's entry into the desalination project in the South, indeed, indicates Netanyahu's ambition to reduce friction potential on this loaded plane with the US.