Benny Gantz
Benny Gantzצילום: עודד קרני, לע"מ

Defense Minister Benny Gantz will take off tonight for security meetings in Washington.

During the visit, Gantz is slated to meet with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and other senior Pentagon officials.

Gantz is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Tuesday and will return to Israel this Thursday morning.

Gantz will fly on a charter flight, accompanied by a small team - the chief of staff of the defense minister, the military secretary and the head of the political-security division in the defense ministry.

Prime Minister Netanyahu was updated on the trip, which will deal with, among other things, ensuring the preservation of Israel's qualitative advantage amid pressure from the United Arab Emirates to purchase F-35 stealth fighters from the US, the issue of international policy vis-à-vis Iran and the preventing it from strengthening and establishing a greater foothold in the Middle East, as well as security cooperation and weapons procurement. Gantz will stay in the United States for about 24 hours and return immediately to Israel.

During his stay abroad, Minister Michael Bitton, who serves as Minister of Social and Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Defense, will be appointed to replace him at the Ministry of Defense.