Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem Tuesday morning.
Gallant expressed his appreciation to Blinken and the U.S. Administration, emphasizing their own statements on the “ironclad bond” between the United States and Israel, which translates to unparalleled security cooperation and intelligence-sharing.
Gallant also thanked Blinken for his leadership and unwavering support for Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME) and right to defend itself.
Minister Gallant briefed the secretary on Israel’s strategic and operational security challenges, focusing on Iran and its proxies in the northern arena, as well as the recent wave of Palestinian Arab terror attacks and high alert in Judea and Samaria.
In this regard, Minister Gallant detailed counterterrorism efforts by Israel’s security forces. He emphasized the importance of restoring stability in the arena and the important role of regional partners in this respect.
“Your visit comes at a critical time, and it sends a clear message to our adversaries as well as our partners in the region: the U.S. and Israel are united in the need to face Iran and anyone who threatens peace and stability,” Gallant said during the meeting.
“We speak in one voice when we say that Iran must not gain a nuclear weapon and that we will not tolerate Iranian aggression.”
“The defense cooperation between our countries has reached a new peak over the past month as seen in the exceptional ‘Juniper Oak’ exercise. Our bond and cooperation are critical to preserving the interests of both nations and to ensuring security and stability in the region. The next step is to work together to strengthen the regional architecture and broaden our cooperation with existing and potential partners in facing common challenges.”
The Israeli party included Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defense Shachar Katz, Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf, and Director of the Policy and POL-MIL Bureau Dror Shalom.