US President Donald Trump said Saturday he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possibility of moving forward on a "mutual defense" treaty between the allies, just three days before Israeli voters go to the polls.
"I had a call today with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the possibility of moving forward with a Mutual Defense Treaty, between the United States and Israel," Trump tweeted.
He said such an agreement would "further anchor the tremendous alliance" between the two countries.
"I look forward to continuing those discussions after the Israeli Elections when we meet at the United Nations later this month!" Trump added, giving a tacit last-minute endorsement to Netanyahu's re-election bid.
Taking to the same medium, Netanyahu thanked "his dear friend" Trump.
"The Jewish State has never had a greater friend in the White House," the Israeli premier tweeted.
"I look forward to our meeting at the UN to advance a historic Defense Treaty between the United States and Israel."
Netanyahu also pledged to "continue full steam ahead with our common battle against terrorism," congratulating Trump "on your latest success against Bin Laden's son."
Trump had earlier in the day confirmed that Hamza bin Laden, the son and designated heir of Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, was killed in a counter-terrorism operation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
The comments come as the international community awaits the release of Washington's long-delayed Middle East peace plan, which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently said could come within weeks.
Its publication was pushed back after Israel scheduled new elections, set for Tuesday.
Then last week, one of the key architects of the US plan, Jason Greenblatt, announced his resignation.
Trump has repeatedly boasted that he is the most pro-Israeli US president in history. He has slashed aid to the Palestinians, while making big concessions to the Israelis, including formalizing US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.
As a result, the Palestinian Authority has cut off formal contact with the Trump administration, saying it is not an honest broker.
So far, Trump has not commented on Netanyahu's controversial pledge to annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as well as the Jordan Valley if re-elected — which would seem to go beyond US proposals for land swaps between Israel and the Palestinians.
Netanyahu, 69, is fighting his second election in five months with a potential corruption indictment looming. He suffered a major defeat in April, when his Likud party along with its right-wing and religious allies won a majority, but he failed to form a coalition.
US warship docks in Lebanon amid regional tensions
Beirut (AFP) Sept 15, 2019 –
The United States navy destroyer USS Ramage docked briefly in Lebanon, the US embassy in Beirut said on Sunday, amid heightened regional tensions.
The Arleigh-Burke-class vessel, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, stopped Saturday for a "one-day goodwill visit on the sidelines of its participation in ongoing efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and free-flow commerce in the eastern Mediterranean", a statement from the US embassy said.
US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard and Vice Admiral James Malloy hosted "an on-board reception for US and Lebanese officials", it added.
During the reception, the vice admiral and ambassador underscored "the ongoing commitment of the United States to be a strong and enduring partner for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), with the goals of enhancing military-to-military cooperation and promoting security and stability in the region", according to the statement.
"This remarkable US ship, docked in this remarkable Lebanese city speaks volumes about the partnership between the US and Lebanese militaries," Richard said.
The US is currently engaged in a stand-off with Iran and its Lebanese ally, the Shiite movement Hezbollah, which has been slapped with US sanctions and classified as a "terrorist" organisation by Washington.
Hezbollah is a key player in Lebanese politics, represented both in parliament and the cabinet.
The movement is militarily involved in the war in neighbouring Syria, having sent fighters to the aid of the Iran-allied regime.
In July, the US imposed sanctions on three senior Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, including two lawmakers, in the first such move against members of parliament.
At the end of August, powerful US financial sanctions were imposed on the Jammal Trust Bank in Lebanon, which was accused of acting as a key financial institution for Hezbollah, an arch-foe of US ally Israel.
The ship's docking comes as tensions spike between Hezbollah and Israel, including an exchange of cross-border fire on September 1.
