Prime Minister Naftali Bennett meet Wednesday with US national security advisor Jake Sullivan in Jerusalem.
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The main crux of the meeting was the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna.
"Welcome to Jerusalem, Jake," Bennett told Sullivan, adding that he was happy to host the US national security advisor. Bennett thanked him for making the trip so close to Christmas.
The visit comes as Channel 13 News reported Tuesday that Biden had been dodging phone calls from Bennett. According to the report, the cold shoulder is a response to Bennett's refusal to stop construction in the settlements in general and the Atarot neighborhood of Jerusalem in particular.
Bennett's office denied the report, and some two weeks ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the relations between Biden and Bennett were good.
Bennett said on Wednesday that "I want to say that relations between my government and the Biden administration, between Israel and the US, are stronger than ever. Because they are so strong and the friendship we have built is so meaningful, we can talk openly and honestly about all the shared challenges we face."
"This is a very important time," Bennett said. "What is happening in Vienna has far-reaching ramifications for the stability of the Middle East and Israel's security for the next few years. Yes, this meeting is taking place at the right time."
Sullivan said he had been asked to send Bennett the regards of Joe and Dr. Jill Biden.
"They wanted me to come this week, before Christmas, because we are at a critical point in time for both our countries on a number of important security issues," Sullivan said.
Sullivan added that it was important for the US and Israel to "develop a shared strategy and point of view," and find a way to move forward that would guarantee both countries' interests.
"We are strong together," Sullivan said.
Bennett and Sullivan discussed the negotiations under way between Iran and the western powers, as well as other issues of interest to both Washington and Jerusalem.
Israeli Ambassador to the US Mike Herzog and US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides also participated in the meeting.
Earlier, Sullivan met with his Israeli counterpart, national security council chief Eyal Haluta.
Sullivan, joined by the National Security Council's Middle East director Brett McGurk and other US officials, arrived in Israel on Tuesday. Sullivan has already met with President Isaac Herzog.
In their meeting Tuesday evening, Herzog expressed his concerns about Iran's program toward nuclear weapons as the Vienna talks were ongoing, and told Sullivan that the Middle East was split into "coalitions" – one comprising Israel and the Arab states that sought peace, and were fighting Iran and working toward a better world for their citizens, and Iran's "coalition of terrorism" that sought to destabilize the region.
Herzog thanked US President Joe Biden for his friendship for Israel.
Sullivan is also expected to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss strengthening US-Palestinian relations, a Biden administration official said.
The visit comes as Channel 13 News reported Tuesday that Biden had been dodging phone calls from Bennett. According to the report, the cold shoulder is a response to Bennett's refusal to stop construction in the settlements in general and the Atarot neighborhood of Jerusalem in particular.
Bennett's office denied the report, and some two weeks ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the relations between Biden and Bennett were good.
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