Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and General Michael Kurilla (Photo by Ariel Hermoni IMoD)
On Monday Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant held a meeting with the commander of the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv. General Kurilla attended the swearing in ceremony for Israel’s new IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, who took over for retiring General Aviv Kochavi. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with AIPAC President Betsy Korn.
Minister Yoav Gallant, himself a former IDF general, and General Kurilla held what was described as a productive discussion during which Gallant highlighted the “unique and powerful bond” between the United States and Israel, and the importance of further deepening defense and technological cooperation between the respective defense establishments.
Yoav Gallant also expressed his appreciation to the General for his personal contribution to ensuring and further strengthening our ties.
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In addition, Minister Yoav Gallant reflected on the great value that he says the CENTCOM – this is the US military’s command that deals with the Middle East – framework provides to bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation in the Middle East, contributing directly to regional security and stability. He expressed his commitment to ensuring ongoing dialogue, further expanding cooperation and deepening the level of exchanges in the face of Iranian and proxy attacks on sovereign nations, and attempts to destabilize the region.
The parties agreed to maintain an ongoing dialogue.
As for Prime Minister Netanyahu, he met on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, with AIPAC President Betsy Korn, AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr and AIPAC-Israel Director Cameron Brown. AIPAC is the America Israel Public Affairs Committee which lobbies the U.S. Congress and other political bodies in America on behalf of Israel.
At the meeting, Netanyahu emphasized that the main struggle for Israel and the world has been – and remains – with Iran, and thanked the senior AIPAC officials for their contribution to strengthening the bond between the US and Israel.
Netanyahu and the previous Israeli government agree on at least one point: Iran is a threat to world peace and security and should it acquire nuclear capabilities it would spell as a disaster for the entire world.
