Netanyahu discusses Saudi peace with US security advisor
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia in talks with visiting White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Thursday, his office said.
Netanyahu, who returned to office last month with the formation of a new government, was at the helm in 2020 when Israel established ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco as part of the Abraham Accords.
The Israeli premier has repeatedly expressed his desire to see Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, join the list.
In their talks, Netanyahu and Sullivan discussed "measures to deepen the Abraham Accords and expand the cycle of peace, with an emphasis on a breakthrough with Saudi," the Israeli leader's office said in a statement.
They also discussed joint efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program and its regional activities, with Netanyahu thanking his American guest for President Joe Biden's commitment to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear arms, the statement said.
"You come at a special time because we have acute challenges to our security and vast opportunities for peace," Netanyahu said in televised remarks relayed by his office.
"I am convinced that by working together we can both meet the challenges and realize the opportunities," he said. "That's something that bolsters our extraordinary alliance but also can change the region and change history."
Sullivan stressed that "America's commitment to Israel is iron-clad and it's a commitment that's rooted in shared history shared interests and shared values."
"We have to talk about both the challenges but also the real opportunities that our two countries have to work towards a better future," he added.
Sullivan's visit, the first of a senior US official since Netanyahu's new government was sworn in, also saw him meet President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday for talks about "ways to deepen the strategic cooperation," Herzog's office said.
Before speaking with Netanyahu on Thursday, Sullivan had met with head of Israel's Mossad spy agency David Barnea and Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi.
Hanegbi and Sullivan also held a video call with their Emirati and Bahraini counterparts, with the four "committing to enhancing the Abraham Accords," Netanyahu's office said.
1 year
Lol philippo the propaganda nerd has a new username. Islams holiest sites are 3, the third being the occupied al aqsa compound in occupied Jerusalem. FYI, saudi is not ruled by the peoples voice so why do you even mention "the guardians of the holiest islamic sites" if not to try to manipulate? If you want peace then start acting like it and give back what you stole and appolohmgize, stop killing people. But when you talk about peace you mean something else than actual peace. You mean you being able to steal whatever you want and do whatever you want while arabs say "thank you oh master".
1 year
Racism is hard on the brain.
See? Even Saudi, the guardians of the holiest Islamic sites, are on board with peace now. But us? No, we must liberate Jerusalem and Palestine as well.
Having a modern 1st world country, which is basically the 51st state of the US, as a neighbor and we blindly refuse attempts at peace/and reconciliation or even lay our terms/conditions for peace. The benefits of peace to Lebanon are virtually limitless but, then again, Hizbollah's reason for existence would cease to exist.