Mike Pompeo arrives in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu on annexation

Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, praised Israel and launched another attack on China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic during a visit to Jerusalem on Wednesday. 

Addressing Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, at the start of a three-hour meeting, Mr Pompeo said: "You're a great partner, you share information - unlike some other countries that try and obfuscate and hide that information - and we'll talk about that country, too."  

Mr Pompeo did not mention China by name. He has repeatedly accused China of concealing information about Covid-19 over the past few weeks.

Mr Pompeo was expected to pressure Mr Netanyahu over Chinese investment projects in Israel during their meeting. 

The secretary of state met separately with Mr Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, his new coalition partner,  to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, policy towards Iran, and controversial plans for an Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

It came as the Palestinian Authority said that Israeli soldiers had shot and killed a Palestinian teenager. 

Tensions are high in the occupied territory after an Israeli soldier was killed by a brick dropped from a roof during a house raid in a village earlier this week. 

A "peace plan" unveiled by Donald Trump's administration in January would allow Israel to annex thirty percent of the West Bank in exchange for granting the Palestinians a limited form of statehood. 

A power-sharing deal agreed last month by Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz following three indecisive elections stipulates that Mr Netanyahu can pursue his plans for annexation from July 1 as long as it is coordinated with the US and takes due account of peace in the region.

The plan has been rejected by the Palestinian Authority and France has suggested the European Union could impose sanctions on Israel if the annexation goes ahead.