Top US official heads to Israel, will discuss Iran
US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon will travel to Israel on Saturday for consultations with senior Israeli officials on a range of issues, including Iran and Syria, the White House said on Friday.
The top White House aide's visit "is the latest in a series of regular, high-level consultations between the United States and Israel, consistent with our strong bilateral partnership, and part of our unshakable commitment to Israel's security," a White House statement said.
The talks through on Monday come at a time of heightened tension between Israel and Iran, in the wake of attacks on Israeli diplomats blamed on agents of Tehran.
The visit comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to Washington for White House talks with Obama in early March, where the leaders are likely to focus on Iran and the failure to find a deal on resuming direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
The diplomatic efforts also come at a time of heightened tension over Iran's nuclear program, which Israel and much of the international community fear masks a weapons drive.
Tehran denies the charges but has faced international sanctions and Israeli warnings that it retains the option of a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
The situation in Syria remains tense out after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed an Arab League initiative calling on President Bashar al-Assad to step aside following a bloody crackdown on opponents.
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