Hagel: United States Committed to Israel's Security

04/21/2013 07:00 AM CDT                                          Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 5:00 PM  Chuck Hagel's first stop during his inaugural trip By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, April 21, 2013 - Israel is Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's first stop during his inaugural trip to the Middle East this week, a visit he said will let the people of Israel know the United States is committed to their security. The 6-day trip will take Hagel to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to discuss common threats and interests in the region, and to finalize agreements that will boost a range of military capabilities for Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. "I'm going to Israel first because it is a nation that has had a very special relationship with the United States," Hagel said on his way to that nation during a briefing with reporters traveling with him. "It is a nation today in a very dangerous, combustible region of the world, that in many ways finds itself isolated," he said, adding, "The other countries I'll be visiting are also allies of the United States, and the common threats that face [them and] Israel ... should be seen in a regional context." Each nation has its own set of challenges, the secretary said, but overall the challenges are regional and include terrorism and the threat of nonstate actors who would bring down governments and impact societies. "Those common threats certainly should build a set of common interests, with these countries working together," Hagel said, "and that's part of what I will be talking about as I visit each [nation].' During a presidential trip in March to Israel and Jordan, Barack Obama delivered the same message, the secretary said, adding that during a visit to Turkey this weekend, Secretary of State John Kerry "will be talking about some of the same issues in a different kind of way, but essentially with the same focus of common interests." As he spoke with reporters, Hagel extended his thoughts and prayers to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and acknowledging the tireless work of law enforcement agencies in capturing one of the men suspected in the act of terrorism. "I say this because we are on our way to a very troubled region ... but it reminds us that [no] region of the world is ... safe from these terrible acts," the secretary observed, adding, "If nothing else, it reminds us that all 7 billion of us are global citizens and many of us are confronted by the same kinds of threats and insecurities." Among the region's most long-term threats is Iran, Hagel said. "The Iranians must be prevented from developing the capacity to build a nuclear weapon and deliver it," he added. "The United States' policy has been very clear on this and everyone knows it." Iran is also a state sponsor of terrorism, the secretary said, "[and] that in itself is a threat not just to the region but to our interests in the region and around the world. When you further expand that threat to the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons," he added, the dimensions of the threat become pretty clear. Hagel said he thinks Israel and the United States "see the threat of Iran exactly the same, as do many other countries," not just those in the Middle East, although the United States seeks more time for diplomacy and sanctions to work to stop Iran from pursuing nuclear capabilities. "If you stop just for a moment and look at the U.N. sanctions, the international sanctions on Iran, I don't know of an international regime of sanctions that have been more effective and more unified and tougher than what's being applied to Iran," the secretary said. The sanctions are hurting Iran significantly, he added, but if they don't work, "... I've said, the president's said, all the leaders of the last couple of administrations have said, that the military option is one option that must remain on the table ... but the military option I think most of us feel should be the last option." In response to a question about whether Israel could decide to strike out alone against Iran's nuclear aspirations, Hagel replied that Israel is a sovereign nation and every sovereign nation has the right to defend itself. "It is clear that Iran presents a threat in its nuclear program," the secretary said, "and Israel will make the decisions that Israel must make to protect itself and defend itself." Certainly Israel has every right and responsibility to make their assessments, Hagel added, "but we're working very closely and will continue to work very closely with them."

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Meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel

U.S. Defense Leon E. Panetta, right center, meets with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, left center, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Aug. 1, 2012. Panetta is on a five-day trip to the region to meet with leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, Israel and Jordan..

Panetta: U.S.-Israel Partnership Will Become Closer

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 6, 2012 - Defense cooperation between the U.S. and Israel is already close, and it will get closer as both countries face the threats of the future, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta delivers remarks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., March 6, 2012. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo  Panetta spoke to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee here and said the United States and Israel will work closely together in the face of the dangers that confront both countries."The security bonds between Israel and the United States will only grow as America goes through a historic turning point after a decade of war," he said. In fact, defense cooperation will grow even with U.S. defense budget reductions. Panetta delivered "an ironclad pledge" that the United States will provide whatever support is necessary so Israel maintains military superiority over any state or coalition of states, as well as non-state actors, in the region. "Israel is surrounded by neighbors that have waged wars against it," he said. "The Israeli people have been subjected to rocket attacks, to terrorism, and they live in a world where larger nations have threatened to wipe them off the map." Supporting Israel is the right thing to do and isin America's best interests, Panetta said. "We have no better ally in this critical region of the world," he said. "A strong Israel deters potential aggressors. A strong Israel sends a message to the region and to the world that America will not waver in defense of our allies." The U.S. has increased security assistance to Israel substantially. This year, the budget calls for $31 billion in assistance to the nation, up from $2.5 billion in fiscal 2009. "This is part of a 10-year, $30 billion commitment to Israel's security," Panetta said. "Over and above this commitment, the President has committed more than $650 million in DOD funding for Israeli missile defense." The U.S. is working with Israel to develop an anti-missile system to address the threat from all levels. The system will deal with short-range defense to counter the continued threat of rocket barrages from Gaza. The United States provided more than $200 million for the Iron Dome rocket defense system. "Iron Dome is fielded, it is operational, and this new system has already saved the lives of Israeli civilians with over 30 real world successful hit-to-kill intercepts in 2011," Panetta said. The two nations are also working on medium range missile defense, developing David's Sling, and upper tier ballistic missile defense with the Arrow-3 system. "We are also working to upgrade Israel's Patriot missile system and batteries," he said. "We are committed to moving forward with all of these systems and more -- because as the Prime Minister told me -- these missile shields do not start wars, they prevent wars." The secretary noted the Israeli air force will receive the world's most sophisticated warplane -- the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. "The F-35 is the future of tactical aviation for the United States military, and providing Israel with this advanced fighter makes it the only country in the Middle East with a true fifth-generation fighter capacity, upholding Israel's edge not just now but for many years to come," the secretary said. The two militaries will not only share equipment, but also operational concepts. U.S. and Israeli service members will build greater capability and improve partnership through realistic exercises, joint training and personnel exchanges, Panetta said. "Each year, U.S. and Israeli forces take part in numerous exercises," he said. One example is missile defense exercise Austere Challenge that this year will include more than 3,000 U.S. troops. "This kind of cooperation is mutually beneficial to both the United States and Israel. It has made both of our militaries stronger," Panetta said. The secretary pointed out that cooperation is not just a one-way street. It was an Israeli company that met the call to help protect American soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan by surging production of up-armor kits for Humvees and mine-resistant vehicles. "The kits were made in an Israeli kibbutz, and they saved the lives of our men and women in uniform," Panetta said.

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