by Erez Linn
US President Joe Biden "had prejudices, but he came to the meeting with Bennett with an open mind, and we learned some new things," diplomatic source that traveled with Israeli delegation to Washington says.
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| Prime Minister Naftali Bennett shakes hands with US President Joe Biden as they meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Aug. 27 2021 | Photo: EPA / Sarahbeth Maney / POOL |
Speaking to reporters before boarding his flight back to Israel Sunday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called his meeting with US President Joe Biden "very warm and very helpful."
"A direct and personal connection was made between President Biden and myself, a connection based on trust," he said.
"We achieved all of the objectives we set out for the visit and more. We agreed to joint strategic work to block the Iranian race for nuclear [weapons] with the Americans. We took a significant step in equipping and building Israeli power."
As for efforts to include Israelis in the US visa waiver program, Biden noted: "As you have heard, for the first time, President Biden ordered [efforts] to move forward and close the issue as quickly as possible."
Bennett concluded his remarks by thanking Biden for his warm reception.
Immediately following Bennett's Friday meeting with the US president, Bennett said: "It was an excellent meeting, especially the one-on-one. It was largely a working meeting. There was a feeling that we've known each other for a long time. I found a leader who loves Israel, knows exactly what he wants, and is attentive to our needs," he said.
"As for Iran, both President Biden and ourselves are determined Iran will never be able to acquire nuclear weapons. I'm glad we agree on the objective. Our staff will work in the coming months to develop channels of cooperation. There isn't much time. The issue is urgent and cannot be pushed off," the Israeli leader said.
"I invited the president to Israel once we defeat the Delta [variant], and I really thank and his entire time for his determination to hold the meeting. Immediately after the meeting was canceled yesterday, he said he wanted to hold it no matter what. He said it with determination. I thank him for his attention and focus in the midst of a complex American event," he said, referring to chaos in Afghanistan due to the US withdrawal from the country.
Following their meeting, Biden tweeted: "It was an honor to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the White House today. We strengthened the enduring partnership between our two nations and underscored the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security."
It was an honor to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the White House today. We strengthened the enduring partnership between our two nations and underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. pic.twitter.com/nZYxp9zsWd
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 27, 2021
According to a diplomatic source in the prime minister's entourage, "One of the objectives of the meeting was to forge an unmediated connection between the two leaders." We also wanted to lay out "our strategy on Iran and all its layers," they explained.
He said the Israelis presented two objectives as part of Bennett's strategic plan for Iran: Putting the ayatollah regime back into a corner and putting an end to its ability to achieve nuclear breakout capability.
According to the source, Bennett's analogy was one of the Cold War, in which Israel played the role of the democratic, vibrant, and economically strong US while Iran was in the role of the rotten regime.
The source emphasized Bennett met with Biden after reassessing Israel's policies on Iran. "He had prejudices, but he came with an open mind, and we learned some new things."
They noted the Israeli delegation emphasized Jerusalem's opposition to a return to the original nuclear deal as it would not have the same effect on Iran's nuclear program.
"The Iranians will maintain their knowledge because six years have already passed. The logic, to the extent that there was any, of the original deal was that Israel could take advantage of the years in which it was in effect. But those years have already passed, and they were not used. The Americans will exhaust the diplomatic channels, but there are also other options. It's important to them to work with us on the Iran issue," according to the diplomatic source.
They said they were pleased with Biden's statement, and that everyone understood what he meant when he said that "if diplomacy fails, we're ready to turn to other options." The source said the Israeli delegation believes it is highly important for the region that the US maintains a presence in Iraq and Syria.
"There is a lot of faith on the Israeli side that we can succeed against Iran in the grey area, which is not just through one path. The approach Bennett believes in is multi-faceted," and will work by taking the wind out of Iran's sails, they said.
The source said they were pleasantly surprised by the Americans' openness on the Iran issue. They noted there was not much optimism on the ability to achieve a nuclear deal. "It depends on Israel, Israel isn't a party to the agreement anyway."
Israel was reported to have requested additional measures in accordance with Bennett's comprehensive plan for Iran. "We had concrete requests" pertaining to Iran's nuclear program, they said.
The source was pleased that this time, Biden had asserted "lran will not acquire nuclear weapons" without using the phrase "on my watch."
Asked whether the US would recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the source responded it would not.
Against the background of increased tensions on the Israel-Gaza Strip border, the source said the Israeli delegation emphasized to the Americans Israelis had no ideological desire for the coastal enclave and did not seek a return to the territory. The source noted Israel's three objectives were to keep terrorist organizations in Gaza from amassing weapons, stop their firing of rockets at Israel, and find a solution to the issue of the Israeli captives and hostages held by Hamas.
"As long as these issues are taken care of, the sky is the limit for our willingness to help Gaza. The problem is that they are using what we bring in against us," the source said.
The source said a stabilizing process would soon be implemented in Gaza. "We stopped the suitcases full of dollars, we transferred [the funds] to 100,000 families [in Gaza instead].
"We are allowing tactical things, strategic things will be dependent on the three conditions. The model of rounds [of fighting] is also problematic. We need to put an end to that," they said.
According to the diplomatic official, "On the Palestinian issue, when you're in a government with New Hope member and Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Elkin and Health Minister and Meretz party leader Nitzan Horowitz, there are demarcated boundaries, and there won't be any sharp turns or dramatic changes. The American position is known. The position is not new. Both sides are determined not to allow this thing to define the relationship. They don't want it to be dominant. There are no solutions."
The source claimed the current perception was different from that of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We have been in retreat for 10 years in Area C [which is under IDF military and civilian control]. Is this the only thing - absolutely not, but there are a lot of other issues. This is not the exclusive issue," they said.
As for the possibility of the Americans reopening a Palestinian consulate in east Jerusalem, the source noted the prime minister's stance on the issue – that such a move would signal that Israel was in practice dividing the capital - has not changed. Although the source said the issue was raised in passing, "when there is no fire, you don't need to insist on bringing gasoline."
The source said Biden did what the Israeli delegation had hoped for when he said the Americans would work on including Israelis in the visa waiver program.
The source said Israelis must keep in mind that despite the events in Kabul, the Americans went out of their way to ensure the meeting was held. "This wasn't just a matter of etiquette. This is super important. There are things that can't be pushed off."
The source noted that the meetings with senior cabinet members on national security turned out to be the most important.
Describing the cabinet members, the source said they were "a very smart group with a lot of goodwill, and they have opinions, but at least on the surface, they have cognitive flexibility and they're attentive."
Erez Linn
Source: https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/08/29/everyone-knows-what-biden-meant-by-us-having-other-options-for-iran/
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