Normalization of ties with Israel ignored during talks between Jake Sullivan and Ben-Shabbat

United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met on Tuesday, April 27, in Washington with his Israeli counterpart Meir Ben-Shabbat. This meeting was meant to «continue the close bilateral consultations between the two governments on a range of regional issues», read a White House press release.

The two men «discussed their serious concerns about advancements in Iran’s nuclear program in recent years». During the same meeting, Sullivan underscored «President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself».

Normalizing ties with Arab countries and the commitments made by former US President Donald Trump, including the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, were absent from this meeting.

For the record, this question was at the heart of the first phone call, on January 24, between Jake Sullivan and Meir Ben-Shabbat. The two parties «discussed opportunities to enhance the partnership over the coming months, including by building on the success of Israel’s normalization arrangements with UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco», read a press release by the White House.