A series of preparatory meetings for the meeting between Biden and Bennett took place yesterday. The Prime Minister met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The Iranian issue has been central to all of Bennett's talks so far in Washington.

The crisis in Afghanistan is currently grabbing most of the White House's attention. However, senior officials in the Biden administration make it clear that in light of what is happening in Afghanistan, it will be important for the president to make clear that the Middle East is high on US priorities and that the withdrawal from Afghanistan does not signal a decline in US commitment to Israel or other partnerships in the region. "The withdrawal frees us up resources to more support our partners in the Middle East."