National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan traveling to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend

John Kirby said Sullivan's talks with Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials will include Rafah.

 US NATIONAL SECURITY Advisor Jake Sullivan attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week. The US must be well-educated regarding Iran's terror network due to the impending threats it poses to regional and global stability, the writer asserts. (photo credit: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS)
US NATIONAL SECURITY Advisor Jake Sullivan attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week. The US must be well-educated regarding Iran's terror network due to the impending threats it poses to regional and global stability, the writer asserts.
(photo credit: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS)

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel on Saturday to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and will visit Israel on Sunday to see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Sullivan will stress in his talks with the Israelis the need to go after Hamas terrorists in Gaza in a targeted way, not with a full-scale assault on the southern city of Gaza.

Kirby said Sullivan in his talks with the Saudis will discuss "bilateral and regional matters including the war in Gaza of course and ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region."

Sources say the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia are finalizing an agreement for US security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance, even as an Israel-Saudi normalization deal envisioned as part of a Middle East "grand bargain" remains elusive.

Talks with Israeli officials

Kirby said Sullivan's talks with Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials will include Rafah. Israel has threatened a broad offensive in Rafah but the operation is opposed by the United States out of concerns for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled there to get out of the way of fighting elsewhere in Gaza.

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on January 19. (credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on January 19. (credit: KOBI GIDEON/GPO)

Kirby said Sullivan will argue for a more targeted approach against Hamas terrorists in Rafah. He also said Sullivan will discuss recent stalled efforts to reach a deal with Hamas on the release of sick, elderly and wounded hostages held since the terrorists seized hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7.