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Report: Biden "filters" Bennett against nuclear background Israel today

2021-12-21T21:18:33.477Z


The Prime Minister has been trying to contact the President for weeks, but has not responded • The Bennett bureau denies the report


US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan arrived in Israel yesterday and met with President Yitzhak Herzog. Today, the senior US official will meet with Prime Minister Bennett, Defense Minister Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. R. Eyal Hulta, at the head of the fourth strategic discussion group between the countries.

Sullivan arrives in Israel during a period of fierce debate between the two countries, both on the Iranian and Palestinian issues.

In addition, according to a report in "News 13", US President Joe Biden has in recent weeks refused to talk on the phone with Prime Minister Bennett, even though he requested such a conversation.

The background to the "cold shoulder" of the administration, according to the report, is Bennett's insistence not to stop construction at this stage in the Atarot neighborhood in north Jerusalem, and in the Israeli settlement in Judea and Samaria in general.

About two weeks ago, a debate broke out on this issue between Bennett and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

On the other hand, a senior American official claimed on the eve of the visit that relations between Biden and Bennett were actually good.

"We were quite pleased with the relationship built with Israel, with Prime Minister Bennett, with Foreign Minister Lapid and with senior members of the new Israeli government.

Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser, Photo: AFP

At the center, of course, President Biden hosted Prime Minister Bennett here at the White House in August.

The leaders had a very long one-on-one meeting, I think it created a very good personal connection. "The Bennett bureau also denied the report.

The senior official also said that Sullivan intends to place great emphasis on the Palestinian issue.

"There is a lot to be done to build the political horizon for a two-state solution, which President Biden has always supported. This will be a key issue in the talks.

First, risks of security warming must be lowered.

It will be a topic of conversation with Abbas and Bennett. "He noted that Sullivan would also raise American opposition to Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria.

"We have had honest conversations on this issue and there is definitely more to do. The issue will come up in meetings," the senior official said.

The senior official said Sullivan is not expected to present new positions regarding the Iranian issue.

"This is an issue that we have a daily dialogue with the Israelis. Our common goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and we are committed to it. Sullivan is not expected to present new initiatives but to review the existing situation," the senior US official said.

Another dispute between the two countries concerns the warming ties between the Gulf states, and in particular Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.

In response to a question from "Israel Today," the senior official noted that the United States views the channels of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates favorably.

If there is an opportunity to weaken tensions that have existed for years it is something we support.

We support, for example, contacts between the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, where there has been rivalry that has spawned indirect conflicts across the region.

We also welcome the talks between the Emirates and Turkey.

Our goals are to deter, create discourse and prevent escalation. "The senior US official also rejected the claim that the US was perceived as weak in the Middle East.

It should be noted that Sullivan will also leave for Ramallah and meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.





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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2021-12-21

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