The U.S. Secretary of State’s visit to Israel takes place as the administration of Joe Biden, the U.S. President, is attempting to resolve two issues: the Iran nuclear agreement and the Ukraine crisis.
Nuclear negotiations to revive the JCPOA had come close to reaching an agreement several weeks ago. However, Russia, by raising new demands to the United States at the last moment, emphasized that sanctions imposed against Moscow due to its invasion of Ukraine should not affect Russian trade with Iran.
According to Reuters, Mr. Blinken stated at this meeting that while emphasizing that returning to compliance with the JCPOA is the best way to constrain Iran’s nuclear program and return it to the “box it was in,” he made clear that regardless of whether this happens or not, “our commitment to this fundamental principle that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons is unwavering.”
Mr. Blinken also, referring to Iran’s threats, said that when Iran threatens the United States or its allies and partners, America will “continue to stand against Iran.” He further emphasized during this session that participating countries will cooperate with each other to counter “common security challenges and threats, including Iran’s challenges and its proxy forces.”
Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Prime Minister, who had previously warned that a nuclear agreement with Iran would not be binding on Israel, said after his conversation with Anthony Blinken that he hopes Washington will “hear the voice of the concerned region, Israel, and others.”
On the other hand, Yair Lapid, Israel’s Foreign Minister, while announcing the decision of participating countries in the Negev Summit to transform it into “a permanent assembly,” also invited Palestinians to join it.
According to Reuters, Mr. Lapid, speaking alongside his American, Emirati, Bahraini, Moroccan, and Egyptian counterparts, added that the new structure and “common capabilities that we are creating” will cause fear and deterrence “of our common enemies, chief among them Iran and its proxy forces.”
Said Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the holding of this summit on Monday.
Terrorist Attack Concurrent with Summit
Security concerns in Israel intensified when attackers shot and wounded two border police officers in Hadera, a city 50 kilometers north of Tel Aviv. Police, by shooting at two male attackers identified as “Israeli citizens supporting ISIS,” killed them. According to Reuters, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack by posting a statement on its Telegram account.
Following this terrorist attack, Anthony Blinken, by posting a message on his social media account, condemned the act while stating that violence has no place in society.
On Monday, at the end of the Negev Summit, participants in this gathering condemned the deadly terrorist attack in Hadera.
Corona
On Monday, the office of Israel’s Prime Minister announced with a statement that Naftali Bennett’s COVID-19 test came back positive. Mr. Bennett had met with Anthony Blinken on Sunday.
According to the statement, Mr. Bennett is in good health and continues his activities through remote work from home.
Mr. Bennett’s infection occurred under circumstances where he had received all three vaccine doses.
Source: Voice of America
