Netanyahu appoints his own Iran envoy in message to Biden

Feb 15, 2021

On Feb. 13, Israel’s national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat held a video phone call with his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan. The conversation reportedly dealt with regional security issues. It was the second time Ben-Shabbat and Sullivan spoke on the phone since Sullivan was appointed to his position. The first one took place on Jan. 23. In that first conversation, the two men agreed to discuss soon the many topics on the agenda, including Iran, regional issues and advancing the Abraham Accords.

The Feb. 13 conversation was significant because of publications made the day before. Reportedly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had appointed Ben-Shabbat as his main interlocutor for the upcoming negotiations between the United States and other major powers with Iran. Ben-Shabbat is now tasked with conveying Netanyahu’s positions on Iran to the new Joe Biden administration, with the hope of establishing a productive dialogue channel on Tehran between Jerusalem and Washington.

According to the Israeli press, Netanyahu has been deliberating for several months over the identity of his envoy on Iran, hesitating between Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and Ben-Shabbat. On the one hand, English-fluent Cohen is perhaps the closest and most trusted associate of Netanyahu currently. He is also well-known in Washington and at the Pentagon and has a large and efficient network in the American capital. In fact, associates of Cohen had told the press on several occasions in these past few months that only Cohen is capable of persuading the Americans to change course on Iran. On the other hand, Ben-Shabbat has proven to be no less loyal to Netanyahu. More important perhaps, unlike Cohen, who could be appointed this summer upon finishing his term as Mossad chief, Ben-Shabbat could get to the job right away under his title of national security adviser.

Evidently, for Netanyahu, the time factor was decisive. A debate is ongoing in Jerusalem as to whether the Biden administration would start talks with Iran before or after elections there scheduled for June. The statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken about Iran being just a few months, perhaps even weeks, from a breakout toward nuclear bomb capabilities could signal that the administration is not going to wait. The administration might fear the outcome of the elections of Iran, thus would rather put its foot in the door now before it potentially closes.

The American sense of urgency on Iran affects Israel, but only to some degree. Netanyahu was quick to appoint Ben-Shabbat as his envoy but did little to further the creation of similar dialogue channels with the Europeans. Much like his modus operandi during the Trump administration, Netanyahu believes that the United States, and the United States only, has the fate of the nuclear deal in its hands.