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Haim Saban met with Biden before his arrival in Israel: "The administration knows everything, and they are worried" - Walla! news

2022-06-18T15:10:39.421Z


Billionaire Haim Saban, one of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, met with President Biden ahead of his visit to Israel.


Haim Saban met with Biden before his arrival in Israel: "The administration knows everything, and they are worried."

Billionaire Haim Saban, one of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, met with President Biden ahead of his visit to Israel.

Ben Mercury

18/06/2022

Saturday, 18 June 2022, 07:00 Updated: 18:03

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"The president came to me at six-thirty in the evening, we went into the office and sat together for 45 minutes. He asked his personal assistant, Steve Richetti, to leave us alone, but I know Steve very well and I asked him to stay," says Haim Saban, who was scheduled to meet with President G. And Biden ahead of his visit to Israel at his home in Los Angeles on the eve of his departure for the Middle East.


It happened a week ago, in the villa of the American-Israeli billionaire, one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party.

Saban hosted Biden's first fundraising event at his home (the cheapest $ 1,000 ticket, the most expensive $ 36,000).

Before the event itself, they sat down for a conversation.

Saban "actually" prepared Biden for his expected visit to Israel and gave an interview to Maariv yesterday.



He was with you even before the announcement of the visit.

You asked him if it was final?



"Yes. I asked him, Mr. President, what is closed, are you flying or not flying? And he said I am flying, for sure, it is closed. I do not know for how long,



What exactly did he want from you?



"He wanted to hear my opinion, what he should say to the Israeli people, what he should focus on. I want to emphasize that Biden is knowledgeable about what is going on in the country in great detail. He does not need me for that. All the contacts, all the happenings. "



Does he know who Nir Auerbach is?



"I'm not sure that in this resolution. But I told him, Mr. President, there is a situation where by the time you get to Israel, there will already be another prime minister. He told me that he is coming to Israel, not to one prime minister or another, "His absolute support for the country. It does not matter to me."

"He wanted to know what to say to the Israeli people."

Biden and Saban, including Saban's wife, Cheryl (Photo:.)

Listen, you know the opinion and opinion of the Democrats better than I do.

Just yesterday I read an article by Arun David Miller (who was an adviser to many Democratic presidents) and its title is "Why Biden is Trying to Keep Bennett Alive."

The article states that for Biden, Bennett's fragile right-wing coalition is far superior to the Netanyahu-backed administration.



"Look, I do not want to complicate anyone, so let's say this: My opinion, Haim Saban, is known regarding the possibility of Netanyahu's return to power. And let's say that I expressed this opinion in a conversation with the president."



And how did he react?



"Look, you in Israel now have something to do with a hand gesture, right? So with the president it was a head gesture. And so are the eyes. Let's say he does not have much disagreement with me and let's leave it that way."



There is a chance that by the time he arrives, Israel will be in an election campaign.

American presidents do not usually interfere in Israeli elections.

It will not bother him?



"Biden will not cancel the visit unless something really dramatic happens. He is not just flying to Israel. He is flying to visit the Middle East. In Israel he mainly wants to express his love for the State of Israel and the people of Israel, and we talked about that. What should he do, and what No".



So what did you recommend to him?



"I'm not sure that when he's in Israel he should mess with the settlements. We did not go into great detail on this subject. He asked us to meet again before he flew. I told him he needed to demonstrate his true, authentic love for the State of Israel. I have known Biden for 30 years. "It's a real love. He once said that you don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. I told him to tell Israelis so that they will feel that you are speaking from the guts. That this is your authentic and instinctive feeling."

"Familiar with what is happening in the country in great detail."

Biden (Photo: Reuters)

Are they aware of the strengthening of the far right?

To the power that Itamar Ben Gvir is gaining?



"for sure".



Does this worry the president?



"He was very diplomatic, but they are fully aware of what you said. I leave you alone to conclude where he used hand or head or eye movement, but they know everything and they are worried."



So what about the settlements?



"I do not know, but it should be clear that the president will also visit Ramallah and there he will tell Abu Mazen that the United States continues to support a two-state solution, because that is the only possible solution."



The question is whether he will say the same to Israelis.



"We'll wait and see."



Let's talk about Iran.

The president has made quite a few points here in the surprising decision not to remove the Revolutionary Guards from the list of terrorists.

Do you think there is a real change of attitude in Washington regarding Iran?



"First of all, the president has made the decision and he is whole with it. He has an emissary on this matter named Rob Mali. I know Rob, he is a good man. But at an open Senate hearing recently, he said two things, and he said them in one breath: he said "All the options are on the table and then he added that there is no military solution to the Iranian nuclear problem. And I heard that and I was devastated."



Did you talk about it with the president?



"Certainly. I told him, Mr. President, I would somehow understand if Mali would say those things in a closed hearing, in a secret forum. But in an open hearing, in front of cameras? In the same sentence? How do you negotiate in such a way?"



What did the president say?



"First of all, he was up to date. I mean he's aware of this problem. And secondly he told me 'we'll take care of it.'"



That is?



"I do not know, but I told him sir, you can not let your people talk like that, and he agreed with me."

More on Walla!

A visit to Biden in the Middle East: a combination of strategic links

To the full article

"What needs to be noticed is if a picture of him with Biden is published."

Ben Salman (Photo: Reuters)

Did you talk specifically about the Revolutionary Guards?



"Yes. He said the decision was final. That they are terrorists and their place on the terror list. He was very determined."


There is talk in America that he is tired, that he is a burden, that he is not sharp.

I've known him for 30 years.

He's been confused by numbers all these years.

But if you ask me, last Friday he was sharp, clear, precise.

He then spoke at the event itself for more than 40 minutes, a speech laden with information, without preparations and not from the reporter. "



Did he run for a second term?



" Obviously.

He explicitly told me he was running in 2024.

Do not forget that he is the president who received the most votes ever and it is not that there is any significant figure who has meanwhile broken out in the Democratic camp.

With the Republicans you have De Santis, Cruz, Nicki Haley.

For Democrats, this is President Biden. "



It is no secret that the main purpose of the visit is Saudi Arabia.

Will he agree to end the boycott of MBS, Regent Muhammad bin Salman?

Since the assassination of journalist Hashukaji Ben Salman he has been an undesirable figure among Democrats, but now the president needs him to bring down energy prices.



"Listen, Biden is not a sucker. He's a fox. They want legitimacy from him, he wants to increase oil production. I have no doubt he will meet Ben Salman. What should be noted is if a picture of the two of them is published alone. "



Does it have a chance?



"Listen, a few years ago Ben Salman was here and I was sitting with him. I asked him that. I tell you responsibly, that he really wants to. But he knows that the Qataris, through al-Jazeera, and also the Iranians, will mark him and act against him. He has problems. "I think it's important to wait for the change of generations there. When Ben Salman is left alone, it will be much easier. But he told me he was determined and that it would happen."



You're very close to the Clintons, you'd also been pretty close to Obama.

How do you position Obama and Biden on the issue of sympathy for Israel?



"Obama told me he fell in love with Israel at the time because of 'the one with the blindfold on'. He meant Moshe Dayan, of course. Then he had some disappointments. But Obama's sympathy for Israel was not authentic, did not come from the belly. "Despite this, his contribution to Israel's national security was enormous. It is natural for Biden. He does not need to be explained how to demonstrate his love for Israel. His record is perfect in this matter."



How does he get along with the progressive and anti-Israel opposition in his party?



"He gets along with them, he maneuvers, he provides them with things they need, and he does not move an inch on Israel. He supports Israel not because of one prime minister or another, but because he loves the Jewish state. And that will not change, even if Netanyahu returns." .



Saban did not refer on record to the difficult experience Biden went through during his visit here as vice president, when during the visit an announcement was made about building permits for thousands of housing units in the territories.

The incident turned into a resounding media crisis between Washington and Jerusalem, Biden almost stopped the visit in the middle and returned to Washington.

In the end, the parties overcame.


"In the end, US support for Israel also stems from common interests and values," Saban says.



And if those common values ​​begin to crack



.

And if we get to the bridge,

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Source: walla

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