Meeting attended by US National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Israel's Yossi Cohen.
By MICHAEL WILNERSusan Rice greets Yossi Cohen, National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, prior to a meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House(photo credit: COURTESY WHITE HOUSE)
WASHINGTON -- Israeli and American national security officials met on Thursday to discuss threats posed by Islamic State and the Islamic Republic, White House officials say.The two sides "discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts of the P5+1 and EU to reach a comprehensive solution that peacefully and verifiably resolves the international community’s concerns with Iran’s program," Bernadette Meehan said in a statement. "The delegations pledged to continue the unprecedented coordination between the United States and Israel as negotiations continue."The parties also discussed the threat posed by Islamic State to the region, including Israel, and "ongoing efforts by the United States and coalition partners to degrade and ultimately destroy" the group, Meehan said.US National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Israel's Yossi Cohen led the discussions, which were also attended from the American side by CIA Director John Brennan, Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary of the Treasury David Cohen, White House Coordinator for the Middle East Phil Gordon and US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro.While their staffs meet and correspond regularly in Washington and Jerusalem, the consultative group meeting has become a semi-annual tradition.White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest used Thursday's meeting as an example of the strength of the US-Israel relationship in a briefing with journalists on Wednesday, after reports surfaced of senior Obama administration officials insulting the Israeli premier.
