The White House has confirmed that the meeting planned between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been postponed as Biden focused his attention on dealing with the aftermath of deadly explosions near the Kabul airport that targeted U.S. troops and Afghans seeking to flee their country after the Taliban takeover.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Eleven American soldiers are among the casualties in the attack, believed to be the work of the Islamic State terrorist group.
Biden and Bennett were scheduled to meet late Thursday morning for their first face-to-face conversation since Bennett became Israel's prime minister in June. The two will instead meet on Friday.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the delay, saying that Bennett and the Israeli delegation has returned to their hotel.
Israeli journalists have been removed from the White House press room once the delay in the meeting was announced.
Before arriving in Washington, Bennett made clear the top priority of the visit to the White House was to persuade Biden not to return to the nuclear accord, arguing Iran has already advanced in its uranium enrichment, and that sanctions relief would give Iran more resources to back Israel's enemies in the region.
The Israeli leader met separately Wednesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to discuss Iran and other issues.
Biden has made clear his desire to find a path to salvage the 2015 landmark pact cultivated by Barack Obama's administration but scuttled in 2018 by Donald Trump's. But U.S. indirect talks with Iran have stalled and Washington continues to maintain crippling sanctions on the country as regional hostilities simmer.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
