Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot held a festive meeting together with Israel’s military’ General staff, ahead of the country’s Independence celebrations that are scheduled to commence on the first of May. During their meeting, Defense Minister Lieberman declared the current state of affairs as “the most challenging reality Israel has ever faced,” while applauding Israel’s top Generals for their capabilities in confronting those challenges.
“The state of Israel is dealing with threats and challenges which we have never seen before both in the close circle and the far circle, never have the challenges been so diverse and tangible as they are today. That is why the group that sits here is the best group there is, not just in Israel but even the whole world, which is able and knows to cope and supply answers to the many challenges we have come across and got acquainted with over the recent time period,” said Lieberman.
The meeting of Israel’s general staff came just hours before US Secretary of Defense James Mattis landed in Israel, as part of the American top defense official’s regional tour. Secretary Mattis started his day early this morning in Tel Aviv, where he was welcomed by his Israeli counterpart Lieberman. Following a meeting between the two top defense officials, Mattis reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensure Israel’s security, as well as that of the Jewish people.
Addressing Iran’s repeated threats against Israel, Mattis declared that the United States recognized the need to confront the Islamic Republic’s ongoing aggressions in the region. Nevertheless, Mattis noted that Iran appears to live up to the nuclear agreement, which limits Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.
With regard to Syria, the American top defense official revealed that Washington had proof, in which the Assad regime continues to possess chemical weapons. Mattis took the opportunity to warn Damascus to refrain from using any of those weapons, reiterating Washington’s resolve on the matter.
Following his meeting with Defense Minister Lieberman, Secretary Mattis traveled to Jerusalem where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.