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Afghanistan Dominates DC's Attention, but Mideast Eyes Are On Selected articles concerning Israel, published weekly by Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim’s (Baltimore) Israel Action Committee Edited by Jerry Appelbaum ( [email protected] ) | Founding editor: Sheldon J. Berman Z”L Issue 90 1 Volume 2 1 , Number 3 3 Parshias Ki Savo August 2 8 , 2021 Afghanistan dominates DC's attention, but MidEast eyes are on Bennett By Omri Nahmias jpost.com August 25, 2021 Between a twice - daily Pentagon press briefing, the US presidents were often focused on the Israeli - Palestinian State Department's daily briefing, and the White conflict. However, it seem s this time that is not going to Hou se one, the visit of the Israeli prime minister is be the case. not dominating the news cycle. Lucy Kurtzer - Ellenbogen, director of the Israeli - Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in Washington Palestinian conflict program at the US Institute of Peace, amid the United States’ final act in Afghanistan. On told the Post, “While the Israeli - Palestinian conflict will Tuesday, US President Joe Biden clarified that he wished certainly be on the agenda, it will likely be superseded by to move forw ard with the plan to complete the US other issues, with Iran, COVID and China no doubt withdrawal from the country by August 31 – just six days among those items topping the bill. away. “This is a function of both leaders’ acknowledgment The Pentagon and the State Department are working and agreement that a push for big Israeli - Palestinian closely to coordinate the evacuation of remaining diplomacy would be neither desirable nor fruit ful,” she Americans, alongside US military and Afghan personnel. said. “It is also a function of both leaders being at B etween twice - daily Pentagon press briefings, the State polarized odds on the ultimate goal of two states and Department’s daily briefing and the White House one, the wanting to avoid stark differences at a meeting that visit of the prime minister is not dominating the news ultimately seeks to signal a relational reset, highlight areas cycle. Laura Kelly, foreign policy reporter for The Hill, of shared interest and forge paths for cooperation.” told The Jerusalem Post, “Benne tt’s visit is almost sure to The Jewish community in the US is closely following be overshadowed by the Biden administration’s handling the visit, as well. Ron Halber, executive director of the of the crisis in Afghanistan. Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater “The president is under immense pressure and Washington, told the Post that the American Jewish criticism from both Democrats and Republicans to community “is open - minded and excited about getting to continue military evacuations in Afghanistan bey ond his know Prime Minister Bennett, as we are every time there is self - imposed August 31 deadline,” she noted. a new Israeli prime minister. “The president is not looking to take on any major “Most American Jews feel a natural love and affiliation policy projects. such as launching Israeli and Palestinian for Israel and want the prime minister to succeed, no peace talks,” said Kelly. “Instead, his administration has matter what party he represents. focused on keeping crises at a sim mer and preventing “We are hopeful that President Biden and Prime them from boiling over.” Minister Bennett will enjoy a relationship of mutual respect Tevi Troy, senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy and cooperation that will further the special bond between Center and author of Fight House: Rivalries in the White our two countries,” said Halber. “Most American Jews House, from Truman to Trump, told the Post that while would like to see close coordination between our leaders in the COVID - 19 and Afghanistan situations are dominating solving the COVID crisis and responding to the threat attention in Wa shington, Middle East watchers will be posed by Iran.” paying close attention to the Bennett visit. One aspect of every Israeli prime minister’s visit to the “Netanyahu was prime minister for a long time, across US is a meeting with Jewish leaders. And While Bennett multiple American administrations, and so many did meet with AIPAC executive direct or Howard Kohr, it Americans both inside and outside the government are seems that additional meetings with leaders of major unused to a non - Ne tanyahu government in Israel,” he said. Jewish organizations will have to wait for a different “For this reason, there will be a great deal of interest opportunity. and curiosity in new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s visit “The Jewish community in Washington understands to Washington,” said Troy. “The Left is hoping for a and respects that Prime Minister Bennett is busy significant change from Netanyahu, while the R ight is responding to the s imultaneous challenges facing Israel’s hoping that Bennett, like Netanyahu, remains simpatico security and public health, and we expect to have many with them. Either way, we are in unfamiliar waters.” opportunities to meet with him when the public health Previous meetings between Israeli prime ministers and situation is more conducive,” said Halber. How Biden and Bennett will push the restart button on U.S. - Israel relations By Jacob Kornbluh forward.com August 24, 2021 Joe Biden’s d e cision to pull forces from Afgha nistan questions, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime could haunt his presidency. Minister Naftali Bennett are hoping to set a new tone Despite their deep differences on major diplomatic Foc us o n Is rae l August 28, 2021 Page 2 for U.S. - Israeli relations at the White Hou se Thursday, their clashed frequently in public over Iran and the peace first meeting since each took office. process. They disagree on returning to the 2015 Iranian nuclear This week’s meeting between Biden and Benne tt will deal, the Israeli - Palestinian conflict and China, but experts not end in similar frustrations, said Daniel Kurtzer, former say the leaders have shared policy goals and political skills U.S. Ambassador to Israel. “The fact that they will be able on which to build. to talk to each other with mutual respect, in a civilized “ I would expect the dynamics on a personal level to be diplomatic tone based on friendship, is going to make a very good,” said Fitz Haney, former U.S. Ambassador to difference ev en if there still remains policy differences Costa Rica under Obama, and a longtime Israeli resident. after the meeting.” He pointed to Biden’s and Bennett’s respective reputations The Iran question for working well even with poli tical opponents. Netanyahu’s past vocal opposition to the Iranian Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, this afternoon nuclear deal and his campaign against the Biden (Tuesday, 24 August 2021), at the invitation of US administration’s attempt to return to it will hover over this President Joe Biden, left on his first diplomatic visit to week’s meeting . But Bennett also opposes reviving the Washington. by the Forward 2015 agreement, which lightened sanctions on Iran in Adding to the impetus for Biden and Bennett to exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. generate positive headlines off this first meet - up is the At a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Bennett current crises each is facing. Biden is engulfed in the said he’s going to broach the topic with Biden, but also chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and a budget present an alternative plan “to curb the Iranians, both in showdown with moderate House members. Bennett, who the nuclear sphere and vis - à - vis regional aggression.” leads the right - wing Yamina party, is dealing with an “That’s going to be a very tough discussion,” said outbreak of the Delta variant and rising tensions on the Kurtzer, who is now a professor on Middle East policy Gaza border. studies at Princeton University. But perhaps most key to the success of this initial The lack of pr ogress between Washington and Tehran meet - up: Benyamin Netanyahu will not be in the room, on the deal in recent months, in wake of the Iranian and both Biden and Bennett want to make sure he does elections and the swearing in of President Ibrahim Raisi, not return to power. “could lead for a much more expedited conversation That common desire will keep tensions between Biden between the U.S. and Israel” about the immediate steps and Bennett low, said a f ormer administration official who ne eded to stop the nuclear program, said David Makovsky, was not authorized to speak on the record. Bennett’s so - director of the program on Arab - Israel Relations at the called “change government,” made up of parties who agree Washington Institute of Near East Policy. on little other than their desire to remove Netanyahu, aim But the Biden - Bennett exchange on Iran is likely to be to avoid contentious issues like security and Pale stinian kept under wraps. “I’m sure Bennett won’t want t o rights and to focus on rebuilding the economy and embarrass the president in public when he talks about domestic reforms. After two years in office, Bennett will Iran,” said Dan Arbell, a scholar in residence at the Center cede power to Yair Lapid, who represents a more liberal for Israel studies at American University. swath of Israeli voters. Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon official in the For the Biden administration, the stability of the Obama administration, said Biden should be open to rotation government presents them an opportunity for hearing Bennett out on Iran, since prospects for a renewed movement on the Israeli - Palestinian front once Lapid, the nuclear deal are dim. “This is very much needed since we current foreign minister, takes over.
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