Prefer Jewish News on Google
Biden’s first meeting as president with an Israeli leader is with Mossad chief
A National Security Council official said Biden dropped by a meeting Friday between Yossi Cohen and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser.
President Joe Biden met with the head of Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad, in his first meeting with an Israeli leader since assuming office in January.
A National Security Council official said Biden dropped by a meeting Friday between Yossi Cohen and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser.
The official told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Biden expressed condolences for last week’s catastrophic stampede at a Lag b’Omer celebration in northern Israel.
Axios, citing Israeli sources, reported this week that Biden and Cohen also discussed Iran and that Biden told the Mossad chief that U.S. reentry into the Iran nuclear deal was not imminent. The NSC official denied the assertion.
“The president did not characterise the status of the negotiations in Vienna,” the official said. “He did have a constructive exchange with Mr. Cohen.”
Sullivan briefed top Israeli officials last week on the Biden administration’s negotiations in Vienna to reenter the 2015 Iran nuclear pact. Former President Donald Trump left the agreement in 2018, saying he wanted to pressure Iran into negotiating a more restrictive deal. Iran since then has ratcheted up its uranium enrichment to much higher levels.
Biden believes that reentering the deal is the best means of keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
