{"id":21553,"date":"2024-04-08T19:58:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T19:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/08\/israeli-opposition-leader-calls-for-close-ties-with-u-s-in-visit\/"},"modified":"2024-04-08T19:58:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T19:58:06","slug":"israeli-opposition-leader-calls-for-close-ties-with-u-s-in-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/08\/israeli-opposition-leader-calls-for-close-ties-with-u-s-in-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli Opposition Leader Calls for Close Ties With U.S. in Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met on Monday with Israel\u2019s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, who reaffirmed the underlying U.S.-Israel bond despite tensions between President Biden and Mr. Lapid\u2019s chief political rival, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe United States and the State of Israel are the best of allies and best of friends and we need to maintain this friendship. No current events, no government, even, will interfere with this friendship,\u201d Mr. Lapid told reporters at the State Department after the meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thankful for the support of the American administration to Israel in one of the most difficult moments of our history,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Asked directly about Mr. Biden\u2019s message to Mr. Netanyahu last week threatening a change in U.S. policy if Israel does not do more to feed and protect civilians in Gaza, Mr. Lapid did not respond directly, but acknowledged the difficulty of a military campaign in the crowded enclave.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n