Israeli Reports: Bennett to Visit Washington Next Month

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (AFP)
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (AFP)
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Israeli Reports: Bennett to Visit Washington Next Month

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (AFP)
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. (AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is set to visit Washington next month, according to several Israeli news reports.

The PM will travel to the United States in mid-August for a meeting with US President Joe Biden, The Jerusalem Post said quoting Channel 12 news.

“Bennett will speak to US President Joe Biden on issues pertaining to Iran, more specifically on Ebrahim Raisi,” who will take office in early August, it said.

A diplomatic source with knowledge of the matter told The Times of Israel that Bennett is considering holding the trip on a weekend to avoid missing crucial parliamentary votes back at home while he’s unable to attend.

The trip would be the first meeting between Bennett and Biden and the premier’s first public international trip since taking office last month, it added.



Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
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Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP

The Taliban's foreign office said they saw India as a "significant regional and economic partner" after meeting with its most senior foreign ministry official, the highest level talks with Delhi since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and to boost trade through Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been developing for goods to bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan, Reuters reported.
"In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," the statement from Afghanistan's foreign ministry said late on Wednesday.
India's foreign ministry said after the Delhi meeting that India was considering engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and looking to boost trade ties.
No foreign government, including India, officially recognizes the Taliban administration.
However, India is one of several countries with a small mission in Kabul to facilitate trade, aid and medical support and has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban.
Regional players including China and Russia have signaled they are willing to boost trade and investment in Afghanistan.
The Delhi meeting could ruffle Pakistan, which borders both countries and has fought three wars in the past against India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan also have a strained relationship, with Pakistan saying that several militant attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil - a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.
Earlier this week India's foreign office told journalists they condemned airstrikes conducted late last year by Pakistan on Afghan soil.