Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu discussed Thursday with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who is visiting Israel, the Iranian nuclear program and a normalization of relations between the Jewish state and Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Binyamin Netanyahu and Jake Sullivan
"discussed joint efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program and Iran's actions in the region."
"The Prime Minister welcomed US President Biden's commitment that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons,"
the statement continued.
“Deepen the agreements of Abraham”
“They also discussed next steps to deepen the Abraham Accords
,” a normalization process between Israel and several Arab countries, and
“expanding the circle of peace, with a focus on Saudi Arabia
,” is -he indicates.
Winner of the November 1 legislative elections, Benyamin Netanyahu took the helm on December 29 of a government formed with far-right parties and ultra-Orthodox Jewish formations.
Jake Sullivan's visit is the first by a senior US official since the new government was sworn in.
In power in 2020, Benyamin Netanyahu had concluded normalization agreements with Arab countries (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco) under the aegis of Washington, which he now wishes to extend to Saudi Arabia.
A deal with Saudi Arabia would be a
"quantum leap for peace between Israel and the Arab world"
and could facilitate an Israeli-Palestinian deal, he told Al Arabiya recently.
“I am convinced that by working together, we can both meet the challenges and seize the opportunities
,” he said Thursday in reference to the United States.
"It's something that strengthens our extraordinary alliance but can also change the region and change history
," he added.
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Jake Sullivan for his part underlined
"America's commitment to Israel (...) rooted in a shared history, shared interests and shared values"
, according to a video sent by the office of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The American adviser also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as well as David Barnea, the head of Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence service, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Israel's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi.
Hanegbi and Sullivan held a video call with their Emirati and Bahraini counterparts, with the four
"committing to strengthening the Abraham Accords,"
Binyamin Netanyahu's office said.
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