US VP Harris assures Israel’s Netanyahu of ‘unwavering commitment’ amid Iran standoff
March 5, 2021, 10:52 am

US VP Harris assures Israel’s Netanyahu of ‘unwavering commitment’ amid Iran standoff

ice President Kamala Harris hosts a virtual town hall at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 18, 2021. (AFP)

US Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the United States’ “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the White House said.

She “underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to the US-Israel partnership,” the statement read.

“The Vice President and Prime Minister agreed on the importance of continuing close cooperation and partnership on regional security issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the regime’s dangerous regional behavior,” the White House said.

President Joe Biden’s administration took steps to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal which former President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018 and subsequently announced additional sanctions on Tehran.

The Iranian regime demanded that all Trump-era sanctions on Iran be lifted before taking any real action to return to the deal.

Israel was not a party to the 2015 deal and has longed opposed any “soft” US approaches towards its long-time foe Iran.

Tel Aviv has powerful advocates within the US Congress and Netanyahu has threatened to take unilateral military action on Iran if he deems diplomacy a dead end, which leaves Washington with a difficult balancing act to figure out.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Tel Aviv would not hesitate to act independently if the international community failed to stop Iran’s “nuclear escalation.”

source: Tuqa Khalid

Image source: AFP

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
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Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
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The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
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