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Agence France-Presse

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with President Joe Biden on Friday, a day after a deadly bomb attack on the US Afghanistan evacuation mission forced a postponement and cast a shadow on an Israeli charm offensive.
“My heart goes out, our hearts go out, to all those who we’ve lost,” Biden said after the two met one-on-one, a day after originally planned.
Bennett began his remarks with condolences before announcing: “I bring with me from Jerusalem a new spirit of goodwill.”

Bennett had aimed to reboot US-Israel relations following Benjamin Netanyahu, who during 15 years in office, embraced Republicans and antagonised Democrats.
He also hoped to gain US assurances against Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the 49-year-old premier said he had achieved his goals on his first official visit since taking office in June.
Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett heads to Washington to discuss Iran with Joe Biden
In particular, he said, he was happy to hear Biden say he was determined Iran should “never” obtain a nuclear weapon. Previously, Biden had said Tehran would not obtain a nuclear weapon “on my watch”.
“I found a leader who loves Israel, knows exactly what he wants and is listening to our needs,” Bennett said.
Biden said he had shared common ground with Bennett, including travelling on the same train to Delaware.
“We’ve become close friends,” Biden said. “He’s ridden the Amtrak train a lot.”
‘Prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians’
Bennett took office in June as head of an eclectic coalition in which his pro-settlement party holds only a handful of seats. His government ranges from political hardliners to doves as well as the first Arab party to sit in a coalition.
“He heads and leads the most diverse government in Israeli history,” the US president said of his Israeli counterpart. Biden has made diversity a centrepiece of his administration, choosing Kamala Harris as the first woman of colour to serve as vice-president.
However, Bennett’s positions on key issues remain at odds with the White House.


He has said he would continue settlement construction and was against a Palestinian state in territories Israel captured in 1967, preferring offering economic improvements to discussing civil and national rights.
Bennett also opposes the US reopening a consulate in Jerusalem to handle Palestinian affairs that Trump shut in 2019 after moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In the Oval Office, Bennett strove to highlight common ground.
“Israel knows that we have no better or more reliable ally in the world than the United States of America,” he said.
Biden said the US had an “unwavering commitment” to Israel’s security, including replenishing Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system. In a hint at differences of opinion, Biden said, “we’re also going to discuss ways to advance peace and security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians”.
Shirley Telhami, a professor for peace and development at the University of Maryland, estimated that the attack in Kabul would not affect Biden’s posture on the Palestinians.
“It further lowers the Israeli-Palestinian issue on Biden’s priority, which means he is even less likely to challenge Bennett on this issue,” he said.
‘Putting diplomacy first’ on Iran
Bennett said in the Oval Office that the bombings in Kabul highlighted the potential danger of a nuclear Iran.
“These very days illustrate what the world would look like if a radical Islamic regime acquired a nuclear weapon,” Bennett told Biden.


Israel fiercely opposes Biden’s attempt to reverse Trump’s withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.
Since Trump’s move, Iran had itself withdrawn from key commitments, including on uranium enrichment.
Biden pledged the US was committed to ensuring “Iran never develops a nuclear weapon, but we’re putting diplomacy first and seeing where that takes us. But if diplomacy fails we’re ready to turn to other options.”
After he spoke, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki clarified that diplomacy was “far and away our best option and the preferable option”.


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Biden meets Israeli PM Naftali Bennett in shadow of Kabul airport blasts, a day after scheduled appointment

US President Joe Biden, right, and Naftali Bennett, Israel's prime minister, shake hands at their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday. The two men postponed their meeting after an attack in Afghanistan that killed 13 US service members and at least 75 Afghan citizens. Photo: Bloomberg

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office at the White House on Aug. 27, 2021 in Washington, D.C. Biden has been mulling the timeline for booster shots after the second dose, and five months was discussed. (Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images/TNS)

Israel’s Naftali Bennett urges citizens to get vaccinated as coronavirus variant spreads

Passengers wearing face masks are seen in the departure hall at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: Xinhua

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (C) speaks during a discussion on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has warned of dangers with Iran’s new leader. Photo: AP

Supporters of Ebrahim Raisi are seen in Tehran after his presidential election victory. Photo: Reuters

At least 20 people injured in fresh violence at Gaza-Israel border

Palestinian protesters gather during the clashes near the border between Israel and the Gaza strip in the town of Khan Younis on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa09429513 A Palestinian protester youth takes part during the clashes near the border between Israel and Gaza Strip, in the eastern Khan Younis town southern Gaza Strip, 25 August 2021.Fourteen Palestinians were injured during the clashes near the border east Khan Youmis town in the southern Gaza Strip. EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED SABER

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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Photo: EPA-EFE

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World

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United States & Canada


Naftali Bennett had aimed to reboot US-Israel relations and gain US assurances against Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon
The 49-year-old premier said he had achieved his goals on his first official visit since taking office in June



Naftali Bennett had aimed to reboot US-Israel relations and said he had achieved his goals on his first official visit since taking office in June.


Joe Biden

United States