Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to Meet Chuck Hagel in Washington

Loyal Soldier: Moshe Yaalon is a strong ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but has a record of breaking ranks when he perceives unreasonable risks. Image by Getty Images

By JTA October 7, 2013

WASHINGTON — Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will meet in Washington to discuss “regional security challenges.”

The defense chiefs are scheduled to meet Tuesday at the Pentagon, according to a statement from Pentagon spokesman Carlin Woog to JTA.

Israel has welcomed the results of a threat by the Obama administration to strike Syria’s chemical weapons capability, spurring a decision by Syria to allow outside inspectors to destroy its chemical weapons.

Israel has made clear it wants President Obama to apply the same tactics — a credible military threat coupled with diplomacy — in negotiating an end to Iran’s suspected nuclear program.

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