Former Biden adviser Hochstein rejects Lapid's claim Israel blocked a US-Saudi nuclear agreement

Former Biden administration senior adviser Amos Hochstein refuted opposition leader Yair Lapid's assertion that Israel had previously blocked a US-Saudi nuclear agreement. Hochstein, who was the lead US negotiator for the nuclear component, stated that negotiations were conducted independently between Washington and Riyadh and gained momentum after the Bennett-Lapid government concluded. He emphasized, "Did Israel at some point manage to stop the US from doing a nuclear deal with the Saudis? The easy answer, and the simplest answer, is absolutely not." Hochstein clarified that while Israel can provide input, it "cannot block or initiate any American policy." The proposed agreement, largely based on a framework negotiated under Biden, was described by Hochstein as a "good development and a good policy for the United States and for the region," provided it meets American nonproliferation and security standards.