Hosting Pompeo amid concerns about policy in Syria, PM hails US-Israel alliance. Arriving from talks in Turkey with Erdogan, US secretary stresses ongoing ‘efforts to counter the Iranian regime’s malign influence’; spends a few minutes in PM’s sukkah

Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, met this weekend with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Hosting Pompeo on Friday as President Donald Trump’s policy changes on Syria spark concern among Israelis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Pompeo and Trump for their “consistent support for Israel” and hailed the strength of US-Israel ties. Commenting on the US-arranged ceasefire in Turkey’s offensive in Syria against Kurdish fighters, the prime minister said mildly that he hoped it would “turn out for the best.”

“Netanyahu and I had a productive meeting on efforts to counter the Iranian regime’s malign influence as well as regional developments and other issues related to Israel’s security,” Pompeo tweeted after the meeting at Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem.

In a statement to reporters, alongside Netanyahu, Pompeo also said the US-Israel relationship was “as strong as it has ever been.”

He said he and Netanyahu discussed “all the efforts we’ve made to push back against the threat not only to Israel but to the region and the world from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Added Pompeo: “We shared our ideas about how we can ensure Middle East stability together, and how we would further our efforts to jointly combat all the challenges that the world confronts here in the Middle East,” Pompeo told reporters with Netanyahu by his side.

Asked to respond to the US-arranged deal providing for what is supposed to be a pause in Turkey’s offensive against the Kurds in northern Syria, Netanyahu said: “We hope things will turn out for the best.”

Netanyahu said they discussed “the various challenges that we face together” in the region and efforts to strengthen US-Israel ties. “The Middle East is a sea of troubles and turbulence,” said the prime minister, but one thing that “stands out” is the “durability, stability and strength of the American-Israel alliance”. Added Netanyahu: “We talked about making it even stronger, and I want to thank you for consistent support.”

Earlier, times of Israel reports, Pompeo urged the United Nations Security Council to renew its arms embargo against Iran when it expires next year. “Because of the flawed Iran deal, the UN arms embargo on Iran will expire in one year. Countries like Russia and China will be able to sell Iran sophisticated weapons,” Pompeo tweeted prior to meeting with Netanyahu.

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.

Attached photo credit: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)