Pompeo lands in Israel to discuss West Bank annexation, Iran, and coronavirus

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the country’s plans to annex sections of the West Bank.

Pompeo is the first foreign official to visit Israel since the beginning of the pandemic in January. He received an exemption from the country’s mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone arriving.

The secretary’s visit comes at a tense time, as an Israeli soldier was killed Tuesday during a raid of a West Bank village, and a Palestinian teenager was shot by Israeli soldiers during a stone-throwing incident in the West Bank on Wednesday.

Pompeo expressed condolences on the death of the Israeli soldier and said “Israel has the right to defend itself and America will consistently support you in that effort.”

The secretary met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who postponed the swearing-in ceremony of Israel’s new government for Pompeo’s visit, to discuss Iran, the pandemic, and Israel’s new government, in addition to the annexation plan. Pompeo called the brief visit a “testament to the strength of our alliance.”

The newly reelected prime minister, who will share his term with Blue and White party leader Benjamin Gantz, is eager to begin executing his annexation plan before the November election in the U.S.

Under the terms of the deal Netanyahu worked out with Gantz, the former must coordinate the annexation plan with the United States, taking into account regional stability. Democratic candidate Joe Biden has said he does not support Israel’s annexation plan.

Netanyahu’s plan, which was unveiled in January, would  allow the  Palestinians limited statehood, as Israel annexed about 30% of the West Bank. The Palestinian government rejected the plan.

This past November, Pompeo announced that the Trump administration no longer sees Israel’s West Bank settlements as being inconsistent with international law. Much of the global community disagrees. The Israeli West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements are pieces of land that Israel gained following the 1967 Mideast war – also known as the Six-Day War.

The Trump administration has said it will support the West Bank annexations, if Israel agrees to engage in peace talks with the Palestinians.