Israel, US gloss over differences on Iran, but frictions remain
US-Israel strategic dialogue finds few points of agreement on Iran's nuclear capability; Iraq looks forward to smooth, transparent election.
Scoop: Public harmony masks dissonance in private
This week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan hosted Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata as part of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group.
No surprise that most of the discussion focused on Iran. The White House readout made clear US President Joe Biden’s "fundamental commitment to Israel’s security and to ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," adding that although the US believes "diplomacy is the best path to achieve that goal," if diplomacy fails, the US "is prepared to turn to other options."
Both Washington and Jerusalem want to keep the collaboration smooth and collegial, and they are, especially in public. No one wants a return to the bad blood between former US President Barack Obama and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the US-led 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Israel opposed.
