US, Israel agree to strengthen financial and trade ties
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have issued a joint statement following their meeting in Washington, DC.
The two men discussed “deepening economic cooperation, fostering innovation, and strengthening financial and trade ties” between the US and Israel, according to the statement.
“This is a critical time to shape a new strategic economic future for both countries, reinforcing American global leadership and Israel’s role as a key economic partner,” the statement said, adding that the two countries will continue “collaboration and deeper coordination across economic, technological, and financial policy areas”.
The statement did not refer to Israel’s threats to cut off Palestinian banks from their Israeli correspondent banks – an issue the Biden administration had repeatedly publicly raised concerns about.
US Jewish groups criticise Smotrich’s visit to Washington
We’ve been covering the far-right finance minister’s meeting with his US counterpart, Bessent, in Washington, DC.
It was the first ministerial-level meeting between the US Treasury Department and the Israeli government in four years. That’s because the previous administration of Joe Biden had effectively shunned Smotrich over his hardline views, even publicly rebuking his calls for the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
J Street, a lobby group that describes itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace, said the Trump administration’s embrace of Smotrich “shows how much his racist ideology has been normalised”.
In a post on X, it added: “We must not forget: This is a man who has dedicated his life to inciting violence against Palestinians and erasing any chance of peace.”
Meanwhile, Hadar Susskind, the president of New Jewish Narrative, also said hosting Smotrich in Washington could “imperil the Gaza ceasefire”.
Writing in Jewish Forward, Susskind raised concerns that Smotrich’s US visit has been portrayed as a “comeback for a divisive leader who promotes racism, extremism and violence” in Israeli media.
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