The two top security officials in Israel and the United States met Wednesday to discuss ways to coordinate efforts on “countering Iran’s destabilizing influence and activities in the region.”
Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat met with his American counterpart, US National Security Adviser Robert C. O’Brien at the White House in Washington DC. The two men said they reaffirmed the special relationship and unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and Israel.
“The tremendous strength of the United States-Israel relationship is reflected in the close partnership between our governments, and also in the ties that connect the peoples of Israel and the United States,” they said.
“Our deep-rooted governmental, security, economic, and social ties reflect our shared values, strategic interests, and dynamic economic and trade relationship,” they said in a joint statement issued following their meeting.
O’Brien “underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” adding, “The United States will safeguard and strengthen the overall security relationship, and the commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and support for Israel’s right to defend itself.”
The two also discussed Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and “other regional issues, and agreed on the mutual goal of making the United States-Israel relationship even closer as both countries pursue shared interests in the region.”
In addition, the two said they have directed their respective teams to continue joint working groups in the months ahead to “dramatically improve bilateral relations in a number of areas, including cyber, intelligence, security, and development of telecommunications security to counter the threats posed by Iran and other actors.”