BICOM

Hours after his confirmation as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo flew to Europe and the Middle East on his first visit as the US’s top diplomat.

On Sunday, Pompeo had a two hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated the US commitment to help their allies confront Iran.

“We remain deeply concerned about Iran’s dangerous escalation of threats to Israel and the region, and Iran’s ambition to dominate the Middle East remains. The United States is with Israel in this fight, and we strongly support Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself,” the US Secretary of State said.

He also called for a concerted international effort to “counter the broad set of non-nuclear threats: Iran’s missile systems, its support for Hezbollah, the importation of thousands of proxy fighters into Syria and its assistance to the Houthi rebels in Yemen”.

Netanyahu described the private meeting as “very productive, very focused conversations on our common interests and how to defend our common values”.

Speaking about the imminent US embassy move to Jerusalem, Pompeo said he is “incredibly proud” to be opening the new embassy on 14 May, Pompeo said. “This step comes as Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary of independence, and 70 years of recognition and steadfast support for Israel from the American people as well. By recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the seat of its government, we’re recognising reality,” he added.

“I also stress that President Trump has said in December the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem remain subject to negotiations between the parties, and we remain committed to achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace that offers a brighter future for both Israel and the Palestinians,” he added.

Pompeo did not meet with any Palestinian leaders and it is unclear whether he sought meetings and was rebuffed. The Secretary of State completes his visit today in Jordan.

Israel’s Channel 10 News reported last night that, during a meeting with Jewish leaders in New York last month, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman blamed the Palestinian leadership for rejecting opportunities for peace with Israel for decades, and said they should  “agree to come to the negotiating table — or they should shut up and stop complaining”.

Pompeo visited Saudi Arabia on Saturday and urged the Saudis and their neighbours to resolve a festering dispute with Qatar. He met Saudi King Salman, whose country, along with Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, is embroiled in a row with Qatar that had undermined Gulf Arab unity and frustrated the US as it seeks to blunt growing Iranian assertiveness.

On Friday, he met NATO foreign ministers in Brussels and told them that “absent a substantial fix” in the Iranian nuclear deal, Trump will unlikely decide to stay in the deal after the 12 May sanctions waiver deadline.