Netanyahu talks Iran, Hezbollah, AI with Sen. Daines amid terror wave

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the danger of Iran and its proxy group when he met in his office with US Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT).

“The two discussed a variety of security-related issues including Iran, Hezbollah, and artificial intelligence,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. 

“They also spoke about artificial intelligence, including the challenges and opportunities in the field and the need for cooperation between countries,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. 

The two men discussed ways to strengthen the “special relationship between Israel and the US.” 

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen also talked about those ties when he met with Daines, as well as the importance of the “fight against Iranian terrorism in the world in general and the Middle East in particular.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen meeting with US Senator Steve Daines. (credit: AMOS BEN-GERSHOM/GPO)

Concern over Iran inflaming tensions in the West Bank

Daines visited Jerusalem as concern was high among officials that Iran was purposely inflaming tensions in the West Bank and along its southern and northern borders to distract Israel from its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program.

Israel has been particularly vocal in its opposition to a US agreement by which South Korea would unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for the release of five Americans from jail. 

Daines has also spoken out against the deal. He wrote a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinkin. 

“When the Obama administration released $400 million in liquidated assets to Iran in 2016, we warned that this dangerous precedent would put a price on American lives. 

“Seven years later, the current administration is providing a ransom payment worth at least 15 times that amount to the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, in yet another violation of the United States’ long-standing ‘no concessions’ policy. 

“The release of such a significant sum to the Iranian regime… will only serve to encourage additional hostage-taking for financial or political gain,” he said.

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