WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will emphasize the threat from Iran and Iranian-backed proxies such as Hezbollah when he travels to Kuwait, Israel and Lebanon this week, offering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yet another boost from the Donald Trump administration ahead of Israeli elections next month.
Pompeo will meet with Netanyahu as the head of Israel’s government, not as a candidate, and will not meet with retired Gen. Benny Gantz or any other candidates running in Israel’s elections, scheduled for April 9, a State Department official said.