US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet Israel's Netanyahu, amid Iran tensions

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet Israel's Netanyahu, amid Iran tensions
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet Israel's embattled Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday.
2 min read
03 December, 2018
Pompeo will meet Netanyahu again on Monday [Getty]
Israel's embattled Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday in Brussels, the premier's office said in a statement.

The meeting is in aid of discussing "developments in the region", and comes at a critical time with tensions with Israel's regional rival Iran rising, as well as a push by the US for a Middle East peace plan, which has been rejected by Ramallah.

Netanyahu will be joined by the head of Mossad, Israel's spy agency, and other military and intelligence officials.

The meeting was reportedly due to take place on Wednesday, but was pushed forward to due to the funeral of former president George Bush.

Netanyahu and Pompeo last met in April.

Israel has grown concerned by the increasing reach of Iran in the region, in particular in Syria where Tehran has set up a number of bases and poured in militias.

On Saturday, Pompeo slammed Iran's testing of a missile reportedly capable of hitting Europe.

Iran has neither denied or confirmed the missile test and insisted its programme is defensive.

President Donald Trump pulled out of a nuclear deal with Iran in May, citing the country's missile programme and regional interference as a factor.

The US also angered Palestinians this year by moving the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the contested city of Jerusalem.

Meanwhile Israeli police on Sunday recommended Netanyahu be indicted in a corruption case involving Israel's telecom giant, charges the leader strongly denies.

Agencies contributed to this story.