Pompeo puts Netanyahu on the spot over China and coronavirus

Israel is a transparent partner in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, unlike other countries, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a barely-veiled reference to China during statements to the press with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Touting “Israeli technology and Israeli medical expertise” and the possibility for cooperation between the US and Israel to save lives, Pompeo then added: “You're a great partner, you share information, unlike other countries that obfuscate and try to hide that information – and we'll talk about that country, too.” Netanyahu chuckled, interjecting: “The most important thing is generating that information and then sharing the information.” This was the only time during their public statements in which Netanyahu interrupted Pompeo. The Secretary of State then said that “democracies do both of those incredibly well,” before moving on to remark on US President Donald Trump's peace plan. Pompeo has focused on China's role in the COVID-19 pandemic in many of his public comments in recent weeks, pointing to its suppression of information at the beginning of the outbreak as well as US intelligence theories about coronavirus leaking from a laboratory in the city of Wuhan, where it began. This increased focus on China comes together with years of warnings from Washington that Israel has not done enough to examine the security risks of growing Chinese investments in the Israeli technology and infrastructure sectors. Pompeo – and reportedly the president as well – have warned Netanyahu that they may reduce intelligence-sharing with Israel if these concerns are not satisfactorily addressed. Israel announced the formation of a committee in October to review foreign investments, but its work is not transparent, its purview is extremely limited and it does not have the authority to stop any deals, among other weaknesses, leading US officials to lament that it is insufficiently robust. Pompeo's public comments were an escalation of public pressure on Israel regarding the China issue, to which Netanyahu replied noncommittally. The Secretary of State continued in this vein in an interview with KAN, saying: “We want the Chinese people to be successful, but we don't want the Chinese Communist Party to have access to Israeli infrastructure and to Israeli communication systems – all of the things that put Israeli citizens at risk, and in turn – put the capacity for America to work alongside Israel on important projects at risk as well. We think these risks are very real, and we share information about that.” Pompeo added that he thinks Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, with whom he met, fully understood the risks, even more so after China “deceived the world” about the severity of coronavirus. ANOTHER MAJOR topic of discussion is the Trump peace plan and the possibility that Israel will apply sovereignty to settlements and the Jordan Valley, making up about 30% of the West Bank. The coalition agreement between the US and Israel stipulates that the new government, expected to be sworn in on Thursday, can hold a vote on the matter on July 1 at the earliest. According to the Trump plan, the other 70% of the West Bank would become a Palestinian state under certain conditions. Pompeo, who was in Israel for six hours, said that he and Netanyahu will talk about the “vision for peace.” “There remains work to do to make progress on that, and I am looking forward to it,” he stated. Netanyahu said on the subject that the new government is “an opportunity to promote peace and security based on the understandings I reached with President Trump.” “There are tremendous challenges and opportunities, and we can do them, because we have such a powerful bond that makes the alliance between Israel and the US stand out,” he added. In his meeting with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, the two discussed “different avenues for bringing about [the] realization” of the Trump plan, according to Gantz's spokeswoman. This is likely a reference to Gantz's reticence about annexation. The secretary of state has repeatedly said annexation is Israel's decision, though in reality, Israel would only take such a step with American support, and he said so again to KAN, adding that both Netanyahu and Gantz agree with the Trump administration's “vision for peace.” Pompeo expressed confidence that the new unity government “will make decisions on how to move forward...[and] ultimately resolve this long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.” “It doesn't surprise me that there are lots of different viewpoints in Israel on annexation...It's much like America. That's the great thing about democracy,” he added. Pompeo and Netanyahu also discussed Iran, with the former saying that US will continue its “maximum pressure” sanctions regime. “The campaign we have been a part of to reduce the resources [that Grand] Ayatollah [Ali Khamenei] has to inflict harm here in Israel and all across the world has borne fruit, has been successful, and we're going to stay at it,” Pompeo said. “Even during this pandemic, the Iranians are using the ayatollah regime's resources to foment terror around the world, even as the people of Iran struggle terribly,” he added. “That tells you a lot about the soul of the people who lead that country.” Similarly, Netanyahu spoke out against “unremitting Iranian aggression and terror.” The prime minister expressed his appreciation for the US leaving the Iran nuclear deal and continuing an arms embargo against Tehran. Netanyahu said he and Pompeo will “discuss how we can continue in our partnership to combat, confront and roll back Iran's aggression in the Middle East, Syria and everywhere else.” Pompeo and Gantz discussed Iran's nuclear project and presence in Syria and Lebanon during their meeting at the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Gantz “thanked Pompeo for the strong American stance against global terrorism and for the unwavering support of this administration in advancing peace and regional stability,” his office said. Pompeo also met with MK Gabi Ashkenazi, who is expected to become foreign minister on Thursday, and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen.

Pompeo puts Netanyahu on the spot over China and coronavirus

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