Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday (May 30) in Jerusalem at the official Prime Minister’s Residence with senior U.S. presidential adviser Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt.
Also attending the meeting were U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer.
“I’m tremendously encouraged by how the United States, under President Trump, is working to bring allies together in this region against common challenges, but also to seize common opportunities,” the prime minister said.
Israel is facing one of those challenges at this point — a renewed national election scheduled to take place this coming September 17 — barely a couple of weeks before the prime minister will face a hearing on indictment in three separate cases in which he is being charged with alleged corruption. The failed coalition talks and resulting dissolution of the current Knesset mean a plan to advance legislation to protect the prime minister from prosecution during his tenure has also been destroyed. Nevertheless, he clearly intends to continue on as before, at least until there is concrete reason not to.
“And, you know, we had a little event last night. That’s not going to stop us,” Netanyahu continued. “We’re going to continue working together. We had a great, productive meeting, which reaffirms that the alliance between the United States of America and Israel has never been stronger, and it’s going to get even stronger.”
Kushner thanked the prime minister for his “gracious hospitality” and conveyed greetings from President Trump “for you and for all the people of Israel.
“This was my first time in Israel since the President recognized the Golan Heights, which was a very important announcement,” Kushner said.
“The security of Israel is something that’s critical to the relations between America and Israel, and also very important to the president, and we appreciate all your efforts to strengthen the relationship between our two countries. It’s never been stronger, and we’re very excited about all the potential that lies ahead for Israel, for the relationship, and for the future.”