(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, this afternoon (Tuesday, 24 August 2021), at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, left on his first diplomatic visit to Washington.
Following are Prime Minister Bennett's remarks to the media:
"Good afternoon to everyone.
“I am now leaving for Washington to meet with US President Joe Biden, an old and true friend of the State of Israel.
“On Wednesday, I intend to also meet senior administration officials including the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense.
“There is a new administration in the US and a new government in Israel, and I am bringing with me from Jerusalem a new spirit of cooperation, which rests on the special and long-standing connection between the two countries.
“We will deal with many fronts, especially the Iranian front, and especially the jump in the Iranian nuclear program over the past two or three years. In particular, we will discuss the plan to block this program.
“We will also deal with several actions to strengthen the Israeli military superiority. Alongside this, we will also deal with the spheres of high-tech, the economy, innovation, the climate crisis that disturbs us all and – of course – the fight against the coronavirus.
“I intend to share with President Biden the knowledge and insights we have accumulated in the campaign here – in the State of Israel – regarding the third dose of the vaccine, which I am pleased has already crossed the threshold of 1.5 million people who have been inoculated.
“It seems to me as I board the plane that I am leaving behind me an Israel with the first signs of hope for stabilization in the fight against the Delta strain.
“I have no doubt that the new spirit of cooperation is yielding – and will continue to yield – major achievements for the State of Israel and its security.
“Thank you all."
The head of the National Security Council, the Cabinet Secretary, the head of the Prime Minister's staff, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, the diplomatic adviser and other senior officials are in the Prime Minister's entourage.