US Secretary of Defense Esper stopped in Israel for a few hours yesterday on his way back from India, meeting separately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Before the meetings, Esper was shown an Iron Dome missile defense battery that had recently been produced by the Israeli Rafael company for the US military. US-born Israeli Air Force officer Lt. Tova Winick gave Esper a tour of the system.

After the Iron Dome tour, Esper and Gantz met at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv with Defense Ministry director Amir Eshel and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi. According to Gantz’ office, “They discussed the imperative to maintain regional security and stability and to confront Iran."

After the meeting, Gantz said, "The joint declaration we signed last week means that Israel will have the tools it needs to contend with aggressive and destabilizing forces, making it an even more effective ally to the US and creating the conditions for peace to prosper.’"

Gantz also tweeted, "As Israel’s defense minister, I tell you this evening that the US remains committed to Israel’s security and to its qualitative and technological edge in the Middle East. In my meetings with senior officials in the administration — chief among them Secretary of Defense Esper — we made sure to guarantee Israel’s security for several future decades and to enhance it."