Netanyahu and US general agree to enhance security cooperation

Netanyahu and the visiting US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized a commitment to enhance bilateral security cooperation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a desire to expand on bilateral cooperation with the US during a meeting on Tuesday with visiting US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford.

“It’s good to see you again,” Netanyahu told him. “We have a great alliance between Israel and the United States, and a great alliance between the American military and the IDF.”

“We appreciate it and we know that this alliance is good, not only for security, but also good for peace,” Netanyahu added.

General Dunford conveyed a similar commitment, directing his comments to his Israeli counterpart.

“I’m back, as you know, for my third time since I’ve been in this assignment to not only work on our overall relationship, but to work on my personal relationship with (IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot), which is rock-solid and probably representative of the broader relationship that we have,” he told Netanyahu.

Netanyahu and Dunford also met with World War II veterans in honor of Victory Day (May 9), marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

“I was happy to meet today the heroic veterans and to bring them together with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States and the IDF Chief of Staff,” Netanyahu said.

“I am proud of our veterans and I admire them,” Netanyahu added. “We owe them many thanks.”

Dunford’s visit to Israel follows Eizenkot’s trip to the US last August as Dunford’s guest, which was also aimed at enhancing collaboration between the IDF and the American military.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

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