Iron Dome: Biden Agrees to $1 Billion in Aid to Israel

The Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Naftali Bennett, and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, discussed a few moments ago by telephone different points of the strategic relationship between the parties, highlighting the negotiations for Iran’s nuclear program and the financing of the Iron Dome located in the Middle East. “The leaders of the two countries discussed regional challenges, especially Iran’s growing aggression and steps to block Iran’s nuclear program,” said a statement issued by Bennett’s office.It is worth remembering that after the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement, Biden’s team is looking for alternatives for the Persian country to once again reorient its nuclear program towards a peaceful use of that type of energy. 

In this sense, both presidents also “discussed the situation between Russia and Ukraine”, while the Israeli premier congratulated Biden for the “audacious operation of US forces” last Thursday in northwestern Syria, an operation during which a leader of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.La operation, which in effect postponed the conversation between the leaders, was killed. it came as the Islamic State was trying to re-emerge, carrying out a series of attacks in northwestern Syria. On the other hand, the Israeli premier took the opportunity to thank Biden for his support for Israel, especially with regard to the Iron Dome missile defense system, designed to intercept and destroy rockets and projectiles. Last September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to allocate $1 billion in support of Iron Dome.

According to the Ma’ariv newspaper, another of the points discussed was Israel’s relationship with China, while Washington requested the reduction of trade with Beijing. CIA Director William Burns conveyed a clear message about U.S. dissatisfaction with China’s prominent place in the Israeli economy, with investments in infrastructure and the port of Haifa, among others. Finally, Bennett invited Biden and his wife to visit Israel, and the two leaders agreed to maintain regular contact.

Original source in Spanish