Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant recently visited Washington, DC, to meet with officials from the Biden administration. The main topics discussed were the supply of US munitions to Israel, the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, the escalating tensions with Hezbollah on the Lebanon border, and concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.
Gallant announced that significant progress was made during these meetings, particularly regarding the supply of munitions. He mentioned that obstacles were removed and bottlenecks addressed, helping to advance various issues related to force build-up and munitions supply for Israel.
This statement came after Gallant met with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Gallant’s visit aimed to ease tensions between the US and Israel following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims that the US was withholding weapons. Netanyahu’s remarks had caused confusion and disappointment among US officials.
Earlier in the month, Netanyahu publicly stated that he had told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that it was unacceptable for the US to withhold weapons and ammunition from Israel. This withholding was linked to a US decision in May to pause the shipment of large bombs due to concerns over their impact in densely populated areas in Gaza.
Despite this pause, Israel is still set to receive billions of dollars worth of US weaponry. It is not yet clear if Gallant’s mention of progress means the US will lift the pause on these specific shipments.
During his visit, Gallant also met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Austin emphasized that the US is working urgently to find a diplomatic solution to calm the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border, where there has been an exchange of shelling and missile strikes. This violence has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people on both sides and has raised fears of a wider conflict.
Gallant and Sullivan also discussed the security situation in northern Israel. Gallant stressed Israel’s commitment to ensuring that its communities in the north can return to their homes safely by improving the security conditions in the area.
The discussions also covered the threat posed by Iran, Gallant and Sullivan talked about the importance of cooperation to counter Iranian aggression and its nuclear ambitions. While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Israel and the US remain concerned about its potential military dimensions.
Gallant’s meetings in Washington showed significant progress on the issues of munitions supply and security cooperation between the US and Israel, amid ongoing regional conflicts and concerns about Iran.
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