U.S. General Martin Dempsey Meeting With Israeli Military Officials

Image by Getty Images

By JTA March 30, 2014

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet with senior Israeli military officials in Israel.

Dempsey was scheduled to arrive in Israel on Sunday as the guest of his Israeli counterpart, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, the Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Dempsey’s spokesman said in a statement.

It is Dempsey’s fifth trip to Israel as chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

“The focus of the chairman’s discussions with his counterparts will be on issues of mutual strategic interest, while continuing to build on this important defense relationship,” Dempsey’s spokesman said.

The meetings “demonstrate America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and the meetings come amid much change and turmoil in the region,” the statement said.

Dempsey will remain in Israel through Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Dempsey reportedly is scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, whose recent remarks critical of U.S. policy and lack of an apology angered Washington.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO