National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday in the first high-level US visit to the country since the new Israeli government was sworn in.
Among other topics, Netanyahu and Sullivan discussed the possibility of Israel normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia. Both Israel and the US want to see Israel normalize with more Gulf Arab nations, as it did with the UAE and Bahrain under the Abraham Accords, as part of a plan to build an anti-Iran alliance in the region.
Publicly, Saudi officials seem reluctant to work toward normalization with Israel, but the two countries have been quietly boosting some cooperation. Netanyahu called for the US to mend its relations with Saudi Arabia after the Biden administration publicly feuded with the Kingdom over OPEC+ oil production cuts that were announced in October.
Biden administration officials vowed there would be consequences for the oil cuts, but The Wall Street Journal recently reported that they dropped the threats, and relations have improved as the US and Saudi Arabia are stepping up military cooperation against Iran.
Iran was another topic of conversation between Sullivan and Netanyahu. The White House said during Sullivan’s talks with Netanyahu and other officials, he “restated the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to countering the continued threats posed by Iran to Israel, the United States, and the wider region.”
Sullivan also met with Israel’s defense minister, the head of the Mossad spy agency, the head of Israel’s military, and his new counterpart, Tzachi Hanegbi, a major Iran hawk. Hanegbi has repeatedly threatened that Israel could attack Iran and said Netanyahu would do so if the US doesn’t negotiate a stricter Iran deal or take military action of its own.
The meetings came amid concern over the new government’s plans to expand settlements in the West Bank and overhaul Israel’s judiciary system, which includes a plan to allow the Knesset to override Israel’s top court. US officials told Axios that Sullivan raised both issues in a private meeting with Netanyahu.
The only reason Israel wants to normalize with Saudis is to use their air space for a potential air strike on Iran…!
Yup… Israel and SA playing kissy face is a temporary convenience. Fundamentally, they don’t like each other. but both SA and Israel know that they can buy US influence for pennies on the dollar.
The most logical thing the US can and should do is normalize relations with Iran.
Unfortunately, US does what the lobbyists want and not what is best for itself and the World.
Just maybe Iran does not want normalized relations with those it hates.
And you base that on what? Nothing of course. Just throw sh*t against the wall and see what sticks.
Where are the peacemakers? Everyone needs to have a sit-down with Iran and come up with some comprehensive plans for peace, trade…
You grossly underestimate the power of hate,greed,and power lust.
If you start out with an Anti-Iran this and anti-Iran that, you are fomenting many other potential problems.
israel and saudis have been best buds since the beginning
No-the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
US and China are competing over Saudi Arabia in the western block vs eastern block competition. Saudi Arabia has made significant moves towards the eastern block, including discussions about selling lots more oil to China to be paid in yuan.
This is the US attempting to keep Saudi Arabia as favorable to the western block as possible.
As Ariel Sharon once said, America is controlled by Israel:
https://greensboro.com/does-israel-really-control-america/article_7a525701-d42b-56eb-af4d-14ff6ce78a3c.html