US NSA Sullivan To Visit Israel Amid Concerns Over Netanyahu Policies

Axios has reported that the Biden administration will dispatch White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Israel this month for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "over his government's policies."

• The hardline makeup of Netanyahu's coalition, and expected push to extend Israeli control in the West Bank, has raised concerns in Washington that the new administration may pose a risk to Israel's normalisation of relations with Arab neighbours.
• According to the Axios report, the Biden administration also has concerns over the independence of the Israeli judicial system and Democratic process.
• Israeli officials have indicated that Sullivan's visit will likely be followed by a trip from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with a potential Washington visit from Netanyahu on the cards for February.
• Axios: "Israeli officials say Netanyahu wants to work with the Biden administration on two key issues — stopping Iran's nuclear program and reaching a peace deal with Saudi Arabia."