JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Sunday (Sep 14) {that a} go to to Israel by high US diplomat Marco Rubio underscored the power of ties between the allies, days after an unprecedented Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar drew broad criticism.
The assault on the US ally and key mediator in Gaza truce talks has prompted Arab and Muslim leaders to collect for a present of solidarity in Doha, the place Qatar’s prime minister urged the world to reject “double requirements” and maintain Israel to account.
US chief Donald Trump has rebuked Israel over Tuesday’s strike, and Rubio acknowledged to reporters earlier than departing Washington that the president was “not completely happy” about it, however he insisted the assault wouldn’t “change the character of our relationship with the Israelis”.
Nonetheless, the strike has put renewed pressure on efforts to safe a ceasefire in Gaza, and Rubio allowed that america and Israel have been “going to have to speak about” its impression.
Netanyahu has defended the operation – which focused Hamas officers gathering to debate a brand new US ceasefire proposal – saying killing the group’s leaders would take away the “most important impediment” to ending the Gaza battle.
On Sunday, Rubio provided prayers at Jerusalem’s sacred Western Wall alongside Netanyahu and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an AFP correspondent reported.
Netanyahu mentioned afterwards that the go to confirmed the Israeli-American alliance was “as sturdy, as sturdy because the stones within the Western Wall that we simply touched”.
Below Rubio and President Donald Trump, “the alliance has by no means been stronger”, he added.
Rubio’s most important conferences with officers, together with Netanyahu, will happen on Monday earlier than he departs on Tuesday.
His go to coincides with Monday’s emergency summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Qatar, whose Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani addressed a preparatory assembly on Sunday.
“The time has come for the worldwide group to cease utilizing double requirements and to punish Israel for all of the crimes it has dedicated,” he mentioned, including Israel’s “battle of extermination” in Gaza wouldn’t succeed.
“What’s encouraging Israel to proceed… is the silence, the shortcoming of the worldwide group to carry it accountable.”
