U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed a new joint declaration expanding the security relationship between the United States and Israel on July 14.
A senior White House official told reporters during a conference call that the pledge includes a renewed commitment to blocking Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“This declaration is pretty significant, and it includes a commitment to never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and to address Iran’s destabilizing activities, particularly threats to Israel,” the senior White House official said.
The joint pledge notes the ongoing U.S. and Israeli support for a memorandum of understanding that was finalized while Biden was serving as vice president under former President Barack Obama.
Iran Nuclear Deal
In an interview with Israeli media, which was recorded before he left Washington on July 12 but aired on July 13, Biden said he would keep Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) list even if doing so killed off the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as he began a trip to the Middle East.Asked if his past statements that he would prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon meant that he would use force against Iran, Biden said: “If that was the last resort, yes.
Biden’s 1st Visit to Middle East as President
Biden arrived in Israel on July 13 on his first Middle East trip as president, but his 10th visit to the region overall.At the airport, Biden was briefed by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and a new technology called Iron Beam, which uses lasers and is being developed in conjunction with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
The United States has provided Israel with $4.8 billion for its security, which includes $1 billion for replenishing Iron Dome after the May 2021 conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The president later laid a wreath at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and met with Holocaust survivors.
On July 14, Biden met with Lapid for a bilateral meeting ahead of the announcement of the joint declaration. He was then scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at his residence to discuss Herzog’s recent visits to Jordan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The two countries will also launch a new high-level strategic dialogue on technology in a bid to boost cooperation in four key areas. The four fields are technology to help with future pandemic preparedness, using technology to affect the climate, “artificial technology,” and “other trusted technology ecosystems.”
“We want their tech sector to be connected with ours and looking west as we look to build the technology apparatus for the future,” the senior White House official said.
East Jerusalem Controversy
On July 15, the president will visit the West Bank and East Jerusalem and announce Palestinian economic opportunities, including the development of 4G capabilities in both Gaza and the West Bank.On July 13, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby had to walk back remarks made by U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan to reporters on Air Force One after Sullivan said the Biden administration wants the Palestinians to have a consulate in East Jerusalem.