- Reported Visit Comes Ahead of Israeli Elections as President Donald Trump Publicly Endorses Netanyahu
JERUSALEM: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The Pentagon and Israel’s Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the reported visit.
Hegseth’s trip comes a day after US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming national elections. The vote marks the country’s first general election in four years and takes place against the backdrop of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and the subsequent war in Gaza.
The reported meeting highlights continued high-level engagement between Washington and Tel Aviv at a politically significant moment for Israel, as voters prepare to decide the country’s next political leadership amid ongoing regional security challenges.
Further details about the discussions between Hegseth and Netanyahu, including whether they addressed military cooperation or regional developments, were not immediately available.
BY: The Times Union – REUTERS
