U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will arrive Sunday to deliberate American defense cooperation with Israel. Among the topics expected to be discussed include plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Israel and Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Gates is expected to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. After his visit in Israel, Gates will continue to Jordan, where he will discuss with King Abdullah about the American pullout from Iraq.
Gates is part of a list of senior American officials arriving this week, which includes: James L. Jones, U.S. national security adviser; George Mitchell, U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, who arrived in Syria on Saturday; and Dennis B. Ross, Iran expert of the U.S. National Security Council.