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Opinion Agree on the rules of the game: these are the issues that should appear on the agenda during Sullivan's visit Israel today

2023-01-11T04:37:38.267Z


The American National Security Adviser arrives at a good time for policy initiatives and improving the US position in the region • The key: changing attitude towards Iran


The American national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is expected to arrive in Jerusalem next week for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, regarding the new government's policy.

For Netanyahu, this visit comes at an ideal time to start a series of policy initiatives, including - the Iranian issue, the situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.

It will also make it possible to coordinate moves to promote normalization with other countries and formulate additional courses of action to deepen the Abraham Accords which can be promoted at the "Negev Forum" summit that will convene in March.

Against the background of the differences in approaches and positions between Washington and Jerusalem, which may challenge the relations between the administrations, this visit will be an opportunity to agree on the "rules of the game".

Prime Minister Netanyahu. Opportunity, photo: Marek Israel Salem

As for the "Palestinian issue", it must be assumed that the White House adjusted the expectations to the new reality and the composition of the government and its positions.

One way or another, one of Netanyahu's goals will be to reduce as much as possible the effects of this issue on the political agenda and the relations between the two countries.

So what should Netanyahu's message page to Sullivan include?

Israel-US relations: involvement without intervention

The special relations between the countries and bipartisan American support are in Israel's highest interest.

However, Israel is a sovereign state that formulates its positions independently, out of the responsibility that history has entrusted to it as the state of the Jewish people and in view of the ongoing struggle for its existence, status and security.

A strong Israel is an asset to the US from a security, technological and economic point of view. Following this, Israel will use its power to defend itself, and will not allow its existence and security to be jeopardized. The Americans must at the very least back it up.

Netanyahu and Biden, photo: Amos Ben Gershom/Leam

As for the internal situation - Netanyahu should emphasize that Israel is a young and vibrant democracy, which uses democratic tools to deal with issues that are at the center of severe internal disputes.

There is no room for interference and foreign influence from any side.

The Iranian issue: withdraw from the previous nuclear agreement

Beyond relations with Israel, we have a window of opportunity to restore the position of the United States in the Middle East, to weaken the tightening relationship between it and Russia and China, and to bring Saudi Arabia closer together in a way that will help solve the world's energy problems. The key to all of this: changing the attitude towards Iran.

Iran's involvement in the war in Ukraine illustrates the danger posed by it.

Go out and learn what it will allow itself, if God forbid it becomes a nuclear power.

So far, the Biden administration has been unsuccessful in reining in the Islamic Republic.

Relations between Moscow and Tehran reached new heights in 2022, and this rapprochement will exacerbate the challenges of the US and the West.

The Biden administration's policy towards Iran, so far, has not only not restrained the Islamic Republic, but has allowed it to advance in its efforts in the military nuclear field, to continue its subversive actions in the region, and to continue to carry out terrorist metastases throughout the Middle East.

Revolutionary Guards.

Biden's policy allowed Iran to move forward, photo: Reuters

The White House has placed Middle Eastern affairs not high on its list of priorities, and its policies have conveyed weakness.

The result was not long in coming: the influence of the US has weakened. Washington should completely put the return to the previous nuclear agreement off the agenda, strive to activate the "snapback" option and pose a credible military threat.

Now, also according to the US and the West, since the efforts to return it to the "nuclear agreement" have failed, Iran's involvement in the war in Ukraine provides an opportunity to change the policy towards it. Europe may be more attentive to this today than before.

Netanyahu is determined to continue to insist that Washington should completely put the return to the previous nuclear agreement off the agenda, strive to activate the "snapback" option (which is included in the nuclear agreement and allows for the renewal of all the sanctions imposed on Iran by the United Nations) and pose a credible military threat.

It is important to clarify that it is wrong to assume that this approach will necessarily drag the US into war, on the contrary, such a policy will also greatly reduce the probability of a war that may break out in the Middle East if Iran continues to act to realize its vision. An American decision in this spirit will be a historic leadership step that will restore its position of the US in the Middle East and will have a dramatic effect in the struggle for the new world order.

Such a policy will pave the way for the restoration of relations between the US and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, will stop the process of their rapprochement with Russia and China, will harness them to help significantly in solving the global energy crisis, and will also provide support for the internal protests against the Islamic oppressive regime in Iran. Also, such an approach will also help To renew the momentum created by Abraham's agreements.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia, photo: AP

Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the Palestinian issue

Maintaining Israel's freedom of action in the northern arena: Russia's return for Iran's rescue of helping it in its war in Ukraine may be given in the Syrian arena.

Israel is aware of this danger, will not allow Iranian establishment in this space and will act resolutely to preserve its freedom of air operations.

Advancing relations with Saudi Arabia: The regulation of relations between the royal house in Riyadh and the Biden administration will improve the conditions for advancing Israel-Saudi relations, but it does not guarantee this.

Israel's ambition is to bring about full peace with Saudi Arabia, which will also bring an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

If the time is not yet ripe to achieve this goal in its entirety, it would be correct to move towards it with consistent positive steps, which will mark the direction and create positive momentum.

Expanding the Abraham Accords and establishing regional cooperation to solve global problems: Expanding the regional partnership of the Abraham Accord countries together with Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and hopefully Saudi Arabia as well - can bring relief not only to the energy problems, but also to the global food crisis, the water problem and other needs.

For example, it will be possible to produce alternative sources of wheat from African countries, including Sudan, using technological knowledge and means from Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

Also, it will be possible to use the experience that Israel has gained as a leader in the field of alternative protein for meat products and promote practical solutions to the water problems using the Israeli methods for recycling and desalination.

Avraham signing the agreements (archive), photo: AFP

In the meantime, it would be correct to complete the signing of the agreements with Sudan, to add Chad to forums related to the Abraham agreements, to upgrade relations with Morocco and to renew efforts with other Muslim countries that have not yet established relations with Israel.

Mediation between Russia and the United States regarding the war in Ukraine: In the arena of the struggle between Russia and the West, Netanyahu brings with him advantages, partly in light of his extensive experience and his relations with Putin, Biden, and Zelensky. It would be correct to examine whether the conditions are ripe for effective mediation between the parties and propose it. The USA, Russia and Israel - which gathered in Jerusalem in November 2019, can be used as a format for the framework for holding the talks or at least starting them.

Meir Ben Shabat was the head of the National Security Council and the Israeli government's national security advisor in 2017-2021, managed the strategic contacts with the US and Russia and was involved in the Abraham Accords.

Currently serves as a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) next to Tel Aviv University.

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Source: israelhayom

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