Lapid warns US against nuclear concessions in possible Saudi deal
Opposition leader met with US officials and senators during Washington visit
Opposition leader Yair Lapid cautioned U.S. officials during his visit to Washington, warning them against green-lighting uranium enrichment on Saudi Arabian soil as part of a future deal with the kingdom, Israeli media reported.
"I will find it difficult to support an agreement that would include uranium enrichment on Saudi soil," Lapid said, and asked that "Israel’s security interests be preserved in any future agreement.”
Several Israeli officials have expressed concerns over reports that Saudi Arabia is seeking a civilian nuclear program in the framework of a broader U.S.-Saudi deal.
Lapid met with senior U.S. officials in Biden's administration, including Middle East Special Envoy Brett McGurk and Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security Amos Hochstein, as well as several senators.
“Strong democracies do not endanger security interests to solve political problems,” Lapid told them.
The Yesh Atid party leader also “emphasized the shared values of Israel and the United States as strong democracies,” and discussed “various regional issues related to the Middle East and the Gulf.”
McGurk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf and other officials are set to visit the Saudi kingdom this week to continue the discussions, following U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to Saudi Arabia a month ago and a separate visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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