US defense chief Esper arrives in Israel, holds talks with counterpart Gantz
Defense Minister Gantz says to Esper, "I am deeply appreciative of our dialogue, which has ensured that Israel now has the tools it needs to contend with destabilizing forces in the region."
IsraelDefense
| 29/10/2020
Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Israeli Ministry of Defense
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz welcomed US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to Israel today for a defense-related visit. Gantz met with Esper, who is on a working tour of the region, as part of the ongoing dialogue between the Defense Ministry and the DoD.
After welcoming Secretary Esper as he descended from his flight, Gantz accompanied Esper to a presentation of an Iron Dome battery at Ben Gurion Airport, where the two were briefed by the Rafael CEO and DDR&D representatives on the defense system recently purchased for the American military. They continued on to a bilateral defense meeting, joined by the Director General of the Defense Ministry, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Eshel, and the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieut. Gen. Aviv Kochavi. During the meeting, the two teams reviewed critical components of the defense cooperation between the two defense establishments in the context of the changing Middle East. They discussed the imperative to maintain regional security and stability and to confront Iran. Gantz expressed his appreciation for Esper's personal involvement in the process which led to a joint declaration at the Pentagon last week, affirming the American commitment to Israel's QME and outlining intentions to significantly upgrade Israel's military capacity to the benefit of regional security.
The two reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the steadfast alliance and ironclad defense cooperation between the two countries.
Gantz said to Esper, "As the region is changing and taking huge steps forward, we have worked together to make sure that we leverage those changes to maximize peace and stability in our region. The joint declaration we signed last week means that Israel will have the tools it needs to contend with aggressive and de-stabilizing forces, making it an even more effective ally to the US and creating the conditions for peace to prosper."
Defense Minister Gantz says to Esper, "I am deeply appreciative of our dialogue, which has ensured that Israel now has the tools it needs to contend with destabilizing forces in the region."
Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Israeli Ministry of Defense
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz welcomed US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to Israel today for a defense-related visit. Gantz met with Esper, who is on a working tour of the region, as part of the ongoing dialogue between the Defense Ministry and the DoD.
After welcoming Secretary Esper as he descended from his flight, Gantz accompanied Esper to a presentation of an Iron Dome battery at Ben Gurion Airport, where the two were briefed by the Rafael CEO and DDR&D representatives on the defense system recently purchased for the American military. They continued on to a bilateral defense meeting, joined by the Director General of the Defense Ministry, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Eshel, and the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieut. Gen. Aviv Kochavi. During the meeting, the two teams reviewed critical components of the defense cooperation between the two defense establishments in the context of the changing Middle East. They discussed the imperative to maintain regional security and stability and to confront Iran. Gantz expressed his appreciation for Esper's personal involvement in the process which led to a joint declaration at the Pentagon last week, affirming the American commitment to Israel's QME and outlining intentions to significantly upgrade Israel's military capacity to the benefit of regional security.
The two reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the steadfast alliance and ironclad defense cooperation between the two countries.
Gantz said to Esper, "As the region is changing and taking huge steps forward, we have worked together to make sure that we leverage those changes to maximize peace and stability in our region. The joint declaration we signed last week means that Israel will have the tools it needs to contend with aggressive and de-stabilizing forces, making it an even more effective ally to the US and creating the conditions for peace to prosper."
