Pompeo meets Netanyahu amid concerns that Trump might not be a reliable ally
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm the countriesâ close ties at a time when many in Israel fear the Trump administration intends to give up on the Middle East.
Trumpâs decision to abandon Americaâs Kurdish allies who fought alongside the US against ISIS in the face of Turkeyâs offensive in northern Syria, along with other recent moves, has raised concerns that Trump might not be a reliable ally.
When asked about a US-brokered cease-fire on Thursday aimed at halting the fighting in Syria, Netanyahu said: âWe hope things will turn out for the best.â
Speaking at the end of their meeting, Netanyahu said, “Mike, we’ve had important discussions about strengthening our alliance, the region the various challenges we face together.”
“I want to thank you and the president for your consistent support of Israel. The Middle East is a sea of troubles and turbulence, but if there is one thing that stands out, itâs your ability, stability, and strength of the American-Israel alliance. We talked about making it even stronger, and I want to thank you for consistent support”, Netanyahu thanked Pompeo and President Trump for their continued support of Israel.
Netanyahu invited Secretary Pompeo to visit the sukkah at the Prime Minister’s Residence and said:
“Mike, since youâre visiting here on the holiday of Sukkot, we sit in a sukkah and we always remember what it was like when we didnât have a permanent home. So let me show you a sukkah and then weâll let you continue on your way.”
Also attending the meeting were US envoy to the Middle East Jim Jeffrey, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, National Security Council Director Meir Ben-Shabbat and the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary, Brig.-Gen. Avi Bluth.
