The post Blinken visits Saudi Arabia to expand Abraham Accords appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine "any day," launching a conflict that would come at an "enormous human cost."

The senior adviser to President Joe Biden offered another stark warning the day after US officials confirmed that Russia has assembled at least 70% of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

"If war breaks out, it will come at an enormous human cost to Ukraine, but we believe that based on our preparations and our response, it will come at a strategic cost to Russia as well," Sullivan said.

Sullivan did not directly address reports that the White House has briefed lawmakers that a full Russian invasion could lead to the quick capture of Kyiv and potentially result in as many as 50,000 casualties as he made appearances on a trio of Sunday talk shows.

US officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on the condition that they not be identified, sketched out a series of indicators suggesting that Putin intends to start an invasion in the coming weeks, although the size and scale are unclear. They stressed that a diplomatic solution appears to remain possible.

Among those military indicators: An exercise of Russia's strategic nuclear forces that usually is held each fall was rescheduled for mid-February to March. That coincides with what US officials see as the most likely window for invasion.

The administration has stepped up warnings in recent days that Russia increasingly seems intent on further invading Ukrainian territory.

Last week, Biden administration officials said that intelligence findings showed that the Kremlin had worked up an elaborate plot to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces that Russia could use as a pretext to take military action against its neighbor.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the the scheme included production of a graphic propaganda video that would show staged explosions and use corpses and actors depicting grieving mourners.

"It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet," Sullivan said. He added that Putin "has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now."

Still, Sullivan said that the administration held on to hope that the Russians would move to de-escalate the situation through diplomacy.

"The key thing is that the United States needs to be and is prepared for any of those contingencies and in lockstep with our allies and partners," Sullivan said. "We have reinforced and reassured our allies on the eastern flank."

Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended a classified briefing last week that administration officials gave to members of Congress. He was asked on ABC whether he came away from the briefing thinking it was certain that Russia would move on Ukraine.

"I would say the conditions are there. It's more likely than not. I think the noose is being prepared. It's around Ukraine right now as we speak. These are dangerous times," McCaul said.

Meanwhile, elite US troops and equipment landed Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine following Biden's orders to deploy 1,700 soldiers there amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Hundreds more infantry troops of the 82nd Airborne Division are still expected to arrive at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport. A US Army Boeing C-17 Globemaster plane brought a few dozen troops and vehicles.

Their commander is Maj. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who on Aug. 30 was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan.

"Our national contribution here in Poland shows our solidarity with all of our allies here in Europe and, obviously, during this period of uncertainty we know that we are stronger together," Donahue said at the airport.

Biden ordered additional US troops deployed to Poland, Romania and Germany to demonstrate America's commitment to NATO's eastern flank amid the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. NATO's eastern member Poland borders both Russia and Ukraine. Romania borders Ukraine.

The division can rapidly deploy within 18 hours and conduct parachute assaults to secure key objectives. Based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the division's history goes back to 1917.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Ukraine invasion could come 'any day,' White House aide says appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Ramallah on Wednesday night.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

According to a statement by Abbas' office, the Palestinian leader spoke to Sullivan about "the latest developments in Palestinian territories and the need to end the Israeli occupation of territories of the Palestinian state, settlements activities and terrorism by settlers."

Abbas also said Israel must halt "evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem neighborhoods, stop deducting funds from tax revenues and choking the Palestinian economy."

"The president stressed the need to stop these unilateral Israeli practices that undermine the two-state solution," to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Abbas' office said.

The Palestinian leader also urged closer US-Palestinian ties and told Sullivan that obstacles to closer American-Palestinian ties "must be overcome."

According to the statement, Sullivan reconfirmed Washington's commitment to a two-state solution.

The meeting was also attended by Hussein al-Sheikh, head of the PA' General Authority of Civil Affairs, and Majed Faraj, who overlooks the PA's General Intelligence Service.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post PA leader, top US security official discuss 'settler violence' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Among the officials Gantz met with were National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Gantz was also set to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

In his meetings with the US officials, Gantz emphasized the need to consolidate a military option vis-à-vis Iran and increase oversight of Iran's nuclear armament.

In addition, Gantz spoke of the need for a new policy for the Gaza Strip.

"What was is not what will be," he said.

He told the Americans there was an immediate need to bolster the Palestinian Authority's standing in Gaza and alliances with moderates.

In light of efforts to reach a long-term ceasefire following the IDF's Operation Guardian of the Walls, Gantz discussed with Sullivan and Blinken the issue of the return of Israeli captives held by Hamas as a condition for Gaza's rehabilitation.

Following his meeting with Sullivan, Gantz tweeted: "We talked about the need to promote regional stability by halting Iranian aggressiveness, while strengthening the alliance of moderates and protecting Israel's QME [qualitative military edge].

In a joint statement ahead of his meeting with Blinken, Gantz said, "It's a real pleasure to be here and reconvey Israel's appreciation for the administration, for the president, for yourself, for the ongoing support, which is very important for us in our challenging area.  I'm looking forward to discuss, as we have discussed before, the challenges that we have with Iran, with the Palestinians. As far as Gaza concerned, we do look for stability and prosperity for everybody. And as defense minister, I think the combination between moving forward with reconstruction and making sure that everything stays secure – it's very important for me."

Blinken said he was "very happy today to have the opportunity to pursue that conversation, to talk about the United States's enduring commitment to Israel security, to talk about some of the needs that Israel has in that regard; also to talk about the work that needs to be done to move forward on humanitarian assistance to and reconstruction for Gaza and for the Palestinians living there and to look across the board at the many issues that we have on our agenda."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Gantz tells US officials military option necessary for Iran appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat met with his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan, Tuesday at the Israeli Embassy in Washington to discuss the recent advancements in Iran's nuclear program and the US efforts to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. The two were joined by Robert Malley, who heads the American delegation in the nuclear talks in Vienna.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The officials first held a small forum and were joined by Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Gilad Erdan and National Security Council deputy head Reuven Ezer as well as Brett McGurk, US National Security Council's coordinator for the Middle East, and Barbara Leaf, the NSC's Senior Director for the Middle East. They were later joined by more representatives from both countries.

"The United States updated Israel on the talks in Vienna and emphasized strong US interest in consulting closely with Israel on the nuclear issue going forward," the White House said in a statement released after the meeting.

The two countries "agreed to establish an inter-agency working group to focus particular attention on the growing" Iranian threat, the statement said.

Officials also discussed the Islamist regime's presence in Syria and Hezbollah's activity in Lebanon, as well as the threat posed by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the recent violence between Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem and more normalization deals between Israel and other Arab nations.

"The US strongly condemned the recent indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. US officials affirmed this administration's continued support for efforts to advance peace between Israelis and Palestinians and a two-state solution to the conflict," the White House said.

Tuesday marked the first time Ben-Shabbat and Sullivan met in person, having only held meetings digitally before. Ben-Shabbat is scheduled to return to Israel Wednesday evening.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Israeli national security adviser, US counterpart discuss Iran threat appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.