Asia
The two men met twice, discussing everything from a coronavirus booster and the Amtrak train system to the threat the terror groups and an Iran that seems to be headed for a nuclear weapon poses to the Middle East and the world.
“Suppose Iran flaunts U.S. conditions for the nuclear deal, and the Biden administration still insists on folding and concluding this transaction. It will further undermine its stature and credibility and damage America’s reputation with allies and foes alike,” says Ariel Cohen at the Atlantic Council think tank.
“We pray that no more blood is shed during the evacuation,” said the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Jonathan Schanzer at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies says the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet and U.S President Joe Biden represents a chance to affirm the strong U.S.-Israeli relationship—something to show that America has the trust of its friends in the Mideast.
“I extend my condolences for the lives lost and pray for the rapid recovery of the injured,” said Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
According to the Pentagon, at least 12 U.S. military members and dozens of Afghan civilians were killed near the Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate. Another explosion happened at the nearby Baron Hotel, where British forces were helping to facilitate the evacuation.
“Any delay in unblocking Iranian assets in Japanese banks is not justified,” says Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after meeting in Tehran with Japan’s foreign minister.
“I believe that Iran will have concluded the Biden team is not first-rate and wants to avoid confrontations, so Iran is more likely to test them now than it was six months ago,” said Elliott Abrams, who served as Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela during the Donald Trump administration.
Toshimitsu Motegi toured a photo exhibit, participated in a memorial ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance and saw the tree planted in memory of Chiune Sugihara, who saved Jews during the Holocaust.
Senior researcher at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism Michael Barak said that Al-Qaeda’s propaganda chatter has risen dramatically along with the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
“If this pro-Taliban rhetoric is a harbinger of things to come, it’s not unreasonable to expect that jihadist networks will be established in the West once again,” said Sam Westrop of the Middle East Forum.
Zebulon Simentov, 62, witnessed the Soviet invasion and the first Taliban regime, and has been imprisoned four times.
