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Israel's Bennett works to boost ties with Biden administration

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett learned from the mistakes of his predecessor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and is investing tremendous efforts into developing an intimate relationship with President Joe Biden.
Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Aug. 1, 2021.

This week’s meetings between CIA director William Burns and his Israeli hosts have been described by insiders as excellent. Burns met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and new Mossad chief David Barnea to exchange views on Iran and prepare Bennett’s White House meeting with President Joe Biden later this month. According to senior Israeli officials privy to the discussions, Burns' goals for the meetings were realized in full.

Bennett presented Burns with the pillars of the new government’s policy on Iran, explaining that while Israel opposes a return to the original version of the nuclear agreement with Tehran, it would coordinate with the Biden administration and avoid going behind its back to thwart the deal.

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